1Ngemva kwensuku zika-Abhimelekhi kwavela umuntu wako-Isakhari, uThola indodana kaPhuwa, indodana kaDodo ukuba ahlenge u-Israyeli. Wayehlala eShamiri, elizweni lezintaba elako-Efrayimi.
2Wakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lantathu; wasesifa, wangcwatshwa eShamiri.
3Walandelwa nguJayiri owaseGiliyadi, owakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka engamatshumi amabili lambili.
4Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu, ayegada obabhemi abangamatshumi amathathu. Ayephethe amadolobho angamatshumi amathathu eGiliyadi, lalamhlanje abizwa ngokuthi Havothi Jayiri.
5Ekufeni kwakhe uJayiri wangcwatshwa eKhamoni.
6Abako-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,
7wabathukuthelela kakhulu. Wabanikela ezandleni zamaFilistiya lama-Amoni,
8okwathi ngalowomnyaka abachitha abanqoba. Ancindizela abako-Israyeli bonke okweminyaka elitshumi lasificaminwembili ngasempumalanga kweJodani eGiliyadi, ilizwe lama-Amori.
9Ama-Amoni futhi achapha iJodani ukuba alwe loJuda, loBhenjamini kanye lendlu ka-Efrayimi; u-Israyeli wayephakathi kohlupho olukhulu.
10Lapho-ke abako-Israyeli bakhala kuThixo bathi, “Senze isono kuwe, sadela uNkulunkulu wethu sakhonza oBhali.”
11UThixo waphendula wathi, “Lapho amaGibhithe, lama-Amori, lama-Amoni, lamaFilistiya,
12lamaSidoni, lama-Amaleki kanye lamaMawoni alincindezela lakhulekela usizo kimi, kangilihlenganga ezandleni zawo na?
13Kodwa selingidelile lakhonza abanye onkulunkulu, ngakho angisayikulisindisa.
14Hambani liyekhala kubonkulunkulu elibathembileyo. Kabalisindise nxa seliphakathi kokuhlupheka!”
15Kodwa abako-Israyeli bathi kuThixo, “Senze isono. Yenza kithi lokho okubona kulungile kuwe, kodwa ake usihlenge khathesi nje.”
16Ngakho basusa onkulunkulu bezizweni phakathi kwabo bakhonza uThixo. Wayengeke alumele futhi usizi luka-Israyeli.
17Kwathi ama-Amoni esebizelwe empini njalo emise eGiliyadi, abako-Israyeli abuthana amisa eMizipha.
18Abakhokheli babantu baseGiliyadi bathi omunye komunye, “Lowo ozaqalisa ukuhlasela ama-Amoni uzakuba yinduna yabo bonke abahlala eGiliyadi.”