UHanuni Uhlazisa Izinceku zikaDavide
UDavide uthumela amazwi enduduzo enkosini entsha yama-Amoni, abeluleki bayo abayikholisa ukuthi izithunywa ziyizinhloli. Izindevu zabo zigundwa uhhafu, nezingubo zabo zisikwe ezinqulwini. Ama-Amoni aqasha amabutho ama-Aramu; uJowabe wehlukanisa amabutho akhe no-Abishayi, bese eshiya umphumela kuBaba wethu.
10 1Ngemuva kwalokho, inkosi yama-Amoni yafa, indodana yayo uHanuni yaba yinkosi esikhundleni sayo. 2UDavide wathi: “Ngizakubonisa umusa kuHanuni indodana kaNahashi, njengoba uyise abonisa umusa kimi.” Ngakho wathuma izinceku ukuba zimduduze ngokufa kukayise. Kodwa lapho izinceku zikaDavide zifika ezweni lama-Amoni, 3izinduna zama-Amoni zathi kuHanuni inkosi yazo: “Ucabanga ngempela ukuthi uDavide uhlonipha uyihlo ngokuthuma kuwe amadoda ukuba akududuze na? UDavide akazithumanga yini izinceku zakhe kuwe ukuze zihlole umuzi, ziwuhlole ngobunhloli, ziwuchithe na?”
4UHanuni wazibamba izinceku zikaDavide, waphuca uhhafu wesilevu salowo nalowo muntu, wanquma izingubo zazo ezinkalweni, wazimukisa. 5Lapho uDavide etshelwa, wathuma izithunywa ukuba zihlangabeze wona, ngokuba lawo madoda ayenamahloni amakhulu. Inkosi yathi: “Hlalani eJeriko kuze kuhlume izilevu zenu, bese nibuya.”
6Ama-Amoni, ebona ukuthi asenuka kuDavide, athumela aqasha ama-Aramu aseBeti-Rehobi nama-Aramu aseZoba—amabutho ahamba ngezinyawo ayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amabili—nenkosi yaseMahaka namadoda ayinkulungwane, namadoda aseTobi ayizinkulungwane eziyishumi nambili. 7Esekuzwile lokhu, uDavide wathuma uJowabi nalo lonke ibutho lamadoda alwayo. 8Ama-Amoni aphuma ahlela amaviyo empi ngasesangweni lomuzi, kuthi ama-Aramu aseZoba naseRehobi namadoda aseTobi naseMahaka ema wodwa endaweni evulekile.
9UJowabi wabona ukuthi amaviyo empi ayebhekene naye phambili nangemuva, ngakho wakhetha abanye bamaqhawe akwa-Israyeli, wawahlela ukuba amelane nama-Aramu. 10Abaseleyo wababeka ngaphansi kobuholi buka-Abishayi umfowabo, ukuba bamelane nama-Amoni. 11UJowabi wathi: “Uma ama-Aramu engehlula, ungisize; uma ama-Amoni ekwehlula, ngizakusiza. 12Yibani namandla, masibe nesibindi ngenxa yabantu bakithi nemizi kaBaba wethu. UBaba wethu makenze lokho okubonakala kukuhle kuye.” 13UJowabi nebutho elalinaye basondela ukuyokulwa nama-Aramu, abaleka phambi kwakhe. 14Lapho ama-Amoni ebona ama-Aramu ebaleka, nawo abaleka phambi kuka-Abishayi, angena emzini. Ngakho uJowabi wabuya kuma-Amoni, wafika eJerusalema.
15Lapho ama-Aramu ebona ukuthi ahlulwe ngu-Israyeli, abuthana ndawonye futhi. 16UHadadezeri wabiza ama-Aramu angaphesheya koMfula iYufrathe; afika eHelamu, uShobaki induna yebutho likaHadadezeri ewahola. 17Lapho uDavide ekuzwa, wabutha bonke abakwa-Israyeli, wawela iJordani, wafika eHelamu. Ama-Aramu ahlela amaviyo, amelana noDavide, alwa naye. 18Kodwa ama-Aramu abaleka phambi kuka-Israyeli. UDavide wabulala abashayeli bezinqola zawo abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa nabagibeli bamahhashi abayizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amane, wabe esembulala uShobaki induna yebutho lawo, owafela khona. 19Lapho onke amakhosi ayengaphansi kukaHadadezeri ebona ukuthi ahlulwe ngu-Israyeli, enza ukuthula no-Israyeli, akhonza u-Israyeli. Ngakho ama-Aramu esaba ukusiza ama-Amoni futhi.
