1Kwenyuka uNahashi wakwa-Amoni, wamisa eJabeshi Gileyadi; bonke abantu baseJabeshi bathi kuNahashi: “Yenza isivumelwano nathi, siyakukukhonza.”
2UNahashi wakwa-Amoni wathi kubo: “Ngiyakusenza nani ngalokhu ukuba kukhishwe onke amehlo enu okunene, ngikubeke kube yihlazo kuye wonke u-Israyeli.”
3Amalunga aseJabeshi athi kuye: “Siyeke izinsuku eziyisikhombisa ukuba sithume izithunywa emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli; uma kungekho osisindisayo, siyakuphumela kuwe.”
4Izithunywa zafika eGibeya likaSawule, zakhuluma lawo mazwi ezindlebeni zabantu; bonke abantu badazuluka, bakhala.
5Bheka, uSawule weza elandela izinkabi, evela ensimini; uSawule wathi: “Yini ukuba abantu bakhale na?” Bamtshela amazwi abantu baseJabeshi.
6UMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kukaSawule esezwile lawo mazwi; intukuthelo yakhe yavutha kakhulu.
7Wathatha izinkabi ezimbili, wazihlahlela, wazithuma emikhawulweni yonke yakwa-Israyeli ngesandla sezithunywa, ethi: “Ongaphumi emva kukaSawule noSamuweli kuyakwenziwa kanjalo kuzo izinkabi zakhe.” Ingebhe ngoJehova yehlela phezu kwabantu, baphuma njengomuntu munye.
8Wababala eBezeki; abantwana bakwa-Israyeli babe yizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu, nabantu bakwaJuda babe yizinkulungwane ezingamashumi amathathu.
9Bathi kuzo izithunywa ezazifikile: “Niyakusho kanje kubantu baseJabeshi Gileyadi, nithi: ‘Kusasa lapho ilanga libalele niyakukhululwa.’ ” Izithunywa zafika, zabatshela abantu baseJabeshi; bathokoza.
10Ngalokho abantu baseJabeshi bathi: “Kusasa siyakuphumela kini, nenze kithi konke okuhle emehlweni enu.”
11Kwathi ngangomuso uSawule waviva abantu ngezigaba ezintathu; bafika phakathi kwekamu* ngomlindo wokusa, babulala abakwa-Amoni, laze lashisa ilanga; kwathi abaseleyo bahlakazeka, akusalanga kubo ababili bendawonye.
12Abantu bathi kuSawule: “Ngubani oshilo ukuthi uSawule uyakuba yinkosi phezu kwethu na? Lethani labo bantu ukuba sibabulale.”
13USawule wathi: “Akuyikubulawa muntu namuhla, ngokuba namuhla uJehova usebenzile ukusindiswa kwa-Israyeli.”
14USamuweli wayesethi kubantu: “Wozani siye eGiligali, sibuye sivuse umbuso khona.”
15Bonke abantu baya eGiligali, bambeka khona uSawule waba yinkosi phambi kukaJehova eGiligali; bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula phambi kukaJehova; uSawule nabo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli bathokoza kakhulu khona.