2 Samuel 10
1 Kwathi emveni kwalokho inkosi yabakwa-Amoni yafa, uHanuni, indodana yakhe, waba yinkosi esikhundleni sayo.
2 UDavide wathi: “Ngiyakumenzela umusa uHanuni, indodana kaNahashi, njengoba uyise angenzela ububele.” UDavide wathumela izinceku zakhe ukuba ziyomduduza ngoyise. Izinceku zikaDavide zafika kwa-Amoni.
3 Kepha abaholi babantu bakwa-Amoni bathi kuHanuni, inkosi yabo: “Uma ubheka, ucabanga ukuthi uDavide uthumele abazokududuza ngoba ehlonipha uyihlo na? Akungakho yini ukuba izinceku zakhe zizohlola umuzi, bese ziwubhubhisa na?”
4 UHanuni wazibamba izinceku zikaDavide, wazigunda ingxenye yezilevu zazo, wahhephuna izingubo zazo kwaze kwaba sezinqeni, wayesezikhomba indlela.
5 Kwathi lapho bembikela uDavide ngalokho, wathumela ukuba zihlangatshezwe, ngokuba lawo madoda ayehliswe isithunzi kakhulu. Yathi inkosi: “Hlalani eJerikho, zize zihlume izilevu zenu, bese nibuya.”
6 Abakwa-Amoni babona ukuthi bazenze isinengiso kuDavide, base bethumela, baqasha ama-Aramu aseBhethi Rehobhe nama-Aramu aseZobha, imigundatshani eyizi-20 000, nenkosi yaseMahakha nabantu bayo abayinkulungwane, namadoda aseThobhi ayizi-12 000.
7 UDavide esekuzwile lokho wathumela uJowabe nawo wonke amabutho ayengamaqhawe.
8 Abakwa-Amoni baphuma, bahlela impi esikhaleni sesango; ama-Aramu aseZobha naseRehobhe, namadoda aseThobhi, nawaseMahakha babebodwa endle.
9 UJowabe wabona ukuthi izimpondo zempi zimzungeze nxazonke, wakhetha amabutho kuwo wonke ayekhethwe kwa-Israyeli, wawathuma ukuba ayokulwa nama-Aramu.
10 Amabutho aseleyo wawashiya esandleni sika-Abhishayi, umfowabo, wawathuma ukuba ayokulwa nabakwa-Amoni.
11 UJowabe wathi ku-Abhishayi: “Uma ama-Aramu enamandla kunami, uyoza uzongisiza, kanjalo uma abakwa-Amoni benamandla kunawe, ngizofika ngizokusiza.
12 Qina, masisebenzise amandla ethu ngenxa yabantu bakithi nangenxa yemizi kaNkulunkulu wethu; uSimakade makenze okuhle emehlweni akhe.”
13 UJowabe nabantu ababenaye basondela ukuba balwe nama-Aramu, kodwa abaleka.
14 Lapho abakwa-Amoni bebona ukuthi ama-Aramu abalekile, nabo babaleka phambi kuka-Abhishayi, bangena emzini. UJowabe wabuya kwa-Amoni, waya eJerusalema.
15 Abase-Aramu lapho bebona ukuthi banqotshiwe ngu-Israyeli, babuthana ndawonye.
16 UHadadezeri wayesethumela, wawabiza ama-Aramu ayengaphesheya komfula; afika eHelamu eholwa nguShobhakhi, umkhuzi wempi kaHadadezeri.
17 Kwathi uDavide angabikelwa ngalokho, wayeseqoqa wonke u-Israyeli, wawela iJordani, waya eHelamu. Ama-Aramu athumela impi ukuze abhekane noDavide, alwe naye.
18 Ama-Aramu abaleka phambi kukaDavide, wabulala ama-Aramu angama-700 ayegibele izinqola zempi, nabamahhashi abayizi-40 000. UShobhakhi, umkhuzi wempi yawo, bamshaya, wafela khona lapho.
19 Wonke amakhosi ayeyizinceku zikaHadadezeri, lapho ebona ukuthi u-Israyeli uwanqobile, enza isivumelwano soxolo no-Israyeli, akhonza phansi kuka-Israyeli. Ama-Aramu esaba ukubuye abasize futhi abantu bakwa-Amoni.