2 uSamuweli 24:1-10

Intukuthelo kaJehova yabuye yavuthela u-Israyeli, wamvusa uDavide ngabo ngokuthi: “Hamba ubale u-Israyeli noJuda.” Inkosi yathi kuJowabe induna yempi eyayinaye: “Hamba ezizweni zonke zakwa-Israyeli kusukela kwaDani kuze kube seBeri Sheba, nibale abantu ukuba ngiwazi umumo wabantu.” Wayesethi uJowabe enkosini: “UJehova uNkulunkulu wakho makenezele kubantu kuphindwe kayikhulu phezu kwalokhu abayikho, kubonwe ngamehlo enkosi yami, inkosi; kepha inkosi yami, inkosi, yenamelelani le nto na?” Nokho izwi lenkosi lamahlula uJowabe nezinduna zempi. UJowabe nezinduna zempi baphuma ebusweni benkosi ukuba babale abantu bakwa-Israyeli. Bawela iJordani, bamisa e-Aroweri ngakwesokunene komuzi ophakathi nesigodi sakwaGadi ngaseJazeri; base befika kwaGileyadi nasezweni laseTahetimi Hodishi; bafika naseDani Jahani nangaseSidoni, bafika enqabeni yaseTire, nasemizini yonke yamaHivi namaKhanani; baphuma baya nangaseningizimu kwaJuda eBeri Sheba. Sebedabule izwe lonke bafika eJerusalema ngasekupheleni kwezinyanga eziyisishiyagalolunye nezinsuku ezingamashumi amabili. UJowabe wayesenika inkosi umumo wabantu ababaliweyo; kwaba khona kwa-Israyeli amadoda anamandla ayizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu ayisishiyagalombili ahloma inkemba; amadoda akwaJuda ayeyizinkulungwane ezingamakhulu ayisihlanu. UDavide wahlabeka enhliziyweni emva kokuba esebabalile abantu. UDavide wathi kuJehova: “Ngonile kakhulu ngalokho engikwenzileyo; kepha manje, Jehova, mawuthethelele ububi benceku yakho, ngokuba ngintumazele kakhulu.”