1 Ngemva kwensuku zika-Abhimelekhi kwavela umuntu wako-Isakhari, uThola indodana kaPhuwa, indodana kaDodo ukuba ahlenge u-Israyeli. Wayehlala eShamiri, elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi. 2 Wakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lantathu; wasesifa, wangcwatshwa eShamiri.

3 Walandelwa nguJayiri owaseGiliyadi, owakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lambili. 4 Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu, ayegada obabhemi abangamatshumi amathathu. Ayephethe amadolobho angamatshumi amathathu eGiliyadi, lalamhlanje abizwa ngokuthi Havothi Jayiri. 5 Ekufeni kwakhe uJayiri wangcwatshwa eKhamoni.

6 Abako-Israyeli benza okubi futhi emehlweni kaThixo. Bakhonza oBhali labo-Ashithorethi, labonkulunkulu base-Aramu, labonkulunkulu baseSidoni, labonkulunkulu baseMowabi, labonkulunkulu bama-Amoni, kanye labonkulunkulu bamaFilistiya. Ngenxa yokuthi abako-Israyeli bamdela uThixo kabaze babe besamkhonza, 7 wabathukuthelela kakhulu. Wabanikela ezandleni zamaFilistiya lama-Amoni, 8 okwathi ngalowomnyaka abachitha abanqoba. Ancindizela abako-Israyeli bonke okweminyaka elitshumi lasificaminwembili ngasempumalanga kweJodani eGiliyadi, ilizwe lama-Amori. 9 Ama-Amoni futhi achapha iJodani ukuba alwe loJuda, loBhenjamini kanye lendlu ka-Efrayimi; u-Israyeli wayephakathi kohlupho olukhulu. 10 Lapho-ke abako-Israyeli bakhala kuThixo bathi, “Senze isono kuwe, sadela uNkulunkulu wethu sakhonza oBhali.”

11 UThixo waphendula wathi, “Lapho amaGibhithe, lama-Amori, lama-Amoni, lamaFilistiya, 12 lamaSidoni, lama-Amaleki kanye lamaMawoni alincindezela lakhulekela usizo kimi, kangilihlenganga ezandleni zawo na? 13 Kodwa selingidelile lakhonza abanye onkulunkulu, ngakho angisayikulisindisa. 14 Hambani liyekhala kubonkulunkulu elibathembileyo. Kabalisindise nxa seliphakathi kokuhlupheka!”

15 Kodwa abako-Israyeli bathi kuThixo, “Senze isono. Yenza kithi lokho okubona kulungile kuwe, kodwa ake usihlenge khathesi nje.” 16 Ngakho basusa onkulunkulu bezizweni phakathi kwabo bakhonza uThixo. Wayengeke alumele futhi usizi luka-Israyeli.

17 Kwathi ama-Amoni esebizelwe empini njalo emise eGiliyadi, abako-Israyeli abuthana amisa eMizipha. 18 Abakhokheli babantu baseGiliyadi bathi omunye komunye, “Lowo ozaqalisa ukuhlasela ama-Amoni uzakuba yinduna yabo bonke abahlala eGiliyadi.”

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