1 Kwathi emva kwesikhathi, inkosi yama-Amoni yafa, kwathi uHanuni indodana yayo waba yinkosi esikhundleni sayo. 2 UDavida wacabanga wathi, “Ngizakuba lomusa kuHanuni indodana kaNahashi, njengoyise owayelomusa kimi.” Ngakho uDavida wathuma izithunywa ukuyakhalela uHanuni ngoyise.

Kwathi abantu bakaDavida sebefikile elizweni lama-Amoni, 3 izikhulu zama-Amoni zathi kuHanuni inkosi yazo, “Kambe ucabanga ukuthi uDavida uyamhlonipha uyihlo ngokuthuma izithunywa ukuthi zizokukhalela na? UDavida kazithumanga ukuba zizekhangela idolobho zilihlole njalo zihluthune umbuso na?” 4 Ngakho uHanuni wabamba izithunywa zikaDavida, waziphuca ingxenye yezindevu zomunye lomunye wabo, waquma izigqoko zazo phakathi ezinqeni, wasezixotsha.

5 Kwathi uDavida esekutsheliwe lokhu wathuma izithunywa ukuyahlangabeza abantu labo ngoba babeyangiswe kakhulu. Inkosi yathi, “Hlalani eJerikho indevu zenu zize zikhule beselibuya-ke.”

6 Kwathi ama-Amoni esebonile ukuthi ayeseliphunga elibi emakhaleni kaDavida, aqhatsha izinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amabili zamabutho ama-Aramu ahamba ngezinyawo evela eBhethi-Rehobhi kanye leZobha, ndawonye lenkosi yaseMahakha labantu abayinkulungwane, labanye abazinkulungwane ezilitshumi lambili abavela eThobhi.

7 Uthe ekuzwa lokho, uDavida wathumela uJowabi kanye lamabutho akhe wonke. 8 Ama-Amoni aphuma amisa impi ekungeneni kwesango ledolobho lawo, lapho ama-Aramu aseZobha kanye leRehobhi labantu beThobhi kanye leMahakha babebodwa egangeni.

9 UJowabi wabona ukuthi kwakulamaviyo amabutho phambi kwakhe langemva kwakhe, ngakho wakhetha amanye amaqhawe athenjiweyo ko-Israyeli wabahlela ukuba bamelane lama-Aramu. 10 Amanye amabutho ayesele wathi kawalawulwe ngu-Abhishayi umfowabo, wabahlela ukuthi bamelane lama-Amoni. 11 UJowabi wathi, “Nxa ama-Aramu elamandla kakhulu kulami, uzengihlenga; kodwa nxa ama-Amoni elamandla kakhulu kulawe, ngizakuzakuhlenga. 12 Qina, kasilwe ngesibindi silwela abantu bakithi lemizi kaNkulunkulu wethu. UThixo uzakwenza lokho okufaneleyo njengokubona kwakhe.”

13 Ngakho uJowabi lamabutho ayelaye baqhubeka ukuba balwe lama-Aramu, asebaleka phambi kwakhe. 14 Kuthe ama-Amoni ebona ukuthi ama-Aramu ayebaleka, ebaleka phambi kuka-Abhishayi aya phakathi kwedolobho. Ngakho uJowabi waphenduka ekulweni lama-Amoni waya eJerusalema.

15 Kwathi ama-Aramu ebona ukuthi ehlulwe ngama-Israyeli, aqoqana futhi. 16 UHadadezeri wabiza ama-Aramu ayengaphetsheya koMfula uYufrathe; aya eHelamu loShobhakhi umlawuli wamabutho kaHadadezeri lamabutho ewakhokhele.

17 Kwathi uDavida esekutsheliwe lokhu, waqoqa bonke abako-Israyeli, wachapha uJodani waya eHelamu. Ama-Aramu aviva ukuba ahlangane loDavida asesilwa laye. 18 Kodwa abaleka phambi kuka-Israyeli, njalo uDavida wabulala abatshayeli bezinqola zabo zempi abangamakhulu ayisikhombisa lamabutho ahamba ngezinyawo azinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane. Wagalela loShobhakhi umlawuli webutho lawo, wafela khonapho.

19 Kwathi amakhosi wonke ayezinceku zikaHadadezeri ebona ukuthi ayesehlulwe ngu-Israyeli, enza ukuthula labako-Israyeli aba ngaphansi kombuso wabo. Ngakho ama-Aramu esaba ukusiza ama-Amoni futhi.