22. kodwa kwabakho amatshijolo nabaphembi-qhushululu kubalandeli bakaDavide, abathi: “Aba bebengahambanga nathi. Ngoko abazi kuba nanxaxheba kula maxhoba size nawo. Indoda nganye ingasuka ithathe umfazi wayo nabantwana bayo, ihambe.”
23. Wenjenje ukuwaphendula loo madoda uDavide: “Mawethu, aninako ukwenjenjalo ngento esiyiphiwe nguNdikhoyo! NguNdikhoyo lo usikhuseleyo wasoyisela abaya banqolobi bathimbe izinto zethu.
24. Ayamkeleki le nto niyithethayo. Kaloku umntu osala nemithwalo ufumana isabelo esinye nalo uya edabini. Makunikwe inxaxheba kumntu wonke ngokulinganayo.”
25. Loo mthetho wawiswa nguDavide waba ngummiselo nesiko kwaSirayeli ukususela ngaloo mini.
26. Wathi akufika eZikelage uDavide, wathatha isabelo kuloo maxhoba, wasithumela kumadoda amakhulu angoogxa bakhe kwaJuda, esithi: “Nantso inxaxheba esinabela yona kumaxhoba esiwathimbe kubachasi bakaNdikhoyo.”
27. Wabela abantu baseBhetele, nabaseRama, kwaJuda emazantsi, nakubantu baseYatire,
28. eArohere, eSifimoti, e-Eshtemowa,
29. kunye naseRakeli. Wabela nomzi wakwaJerameli, namaKeni,
30. kwakunye nabantu baseHoma, eBhorashan, eAtaki,
31. nabaseHebron, nakuzo zonke iindawo apho wakha waxhwarha khona kunye namadoda akhe.