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1 Bonke abako-Israyeli baya kuDavida eHebhroni bafika bathi: “Thina siyinyama yakho legazi lakho.

All the Israelites gathered to meet with David in Hebron. They told him, “We are your flesh and blood.

2 Esikhathini esedlulayo, lanxa uSawuli eseseyinkosi, wena nguwe owawukhokhela u-Israyeli emkhankasweni wezimpi. Njalo uThixo uNkulunkulu wakho wathi kuwe, ‘Wena uzakuba ngumelusi wabantu bami u-Israyeli, njalo uzakuba ngumbusi wabo.’”

In recent times, even though Saul was king, you were the real leader of Israel. The Lord your God told you, ‘You will be the shepherd of my people, and you will be the leader of my people Israel.’”

3 Kwathi abadala bonke bako-Israyeli sebefikile enkosini uDavida eHebhroni, wenza isivumelwano labo eHebhroni phambi kukaThixo, basebegcoba uDavida ukuba abe yinkosi ko-Israyeli, njengesithembiso sikaThixo asenza ngoSamuyeli.

All the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a solemn agreement with them before the Lord. There they anointed David as king of Israel, as the Lord had promised through Samuel.

4 UDavida labo bonke abako-Israyeli baya eJerusalema (kusitsho iJebusi). AmaJebusi ayehlala khona

Then David and all the Israelites went to Jerusalem (formerly known as Jebus) where the Jebusites lived.

5 athi kuDavida, “Kawuyikungena lapha.” Kodwa lanxa kunjalo, uDavida wayithumba inqaba yaseZiyoni, uMuzi kaDavida.

The Jebusites told David, “You will not enter here!” But David did capture the fortress of Zion, now known as the City of David.

6 UDavida wayethe, “Ozakhokhela ekuhlaseleni amaJebusi uzakuba nguMlawuli omkhulu wempi.” UJowabi indodana kaZeruya nguye owaqala ukuya khona, ngakho wazuza ubukhokheli.

David had said, “Whoever is first to attack the Jebusites will be my commander-in-chief.” Since Joab, son of Zeruiah, was the first, he became commander-in-chief.

7 UDavida wasehlala enqabeni, yikho yathiwa ibizo lokuthi nguMuzi kaDavida.

David decided to love in the fortress, which is why they named it after him the City of David.

8 Wakha idolobho inxa zonke kusukela emadundulwini kuze kuyefinyelela emidulini ehonqolozeleyo, ngalesosikhathi uJowabi esakha evuselela umuzi.

He built up the city all around it, from the Millo in a circuit all around, while Joab repaired the rest of the city.

9 UDavida waqhubeka njalo esiba lamandla, ngoba uThixo uSomandla wayelaye.

David became more and more powerful, for the Lord Almighty was with him.

10 Lezi zinduna zamaqhawe kaDavida ezazimsekele ngokuqinileyo embusweni kanye laye wonke u-Israyeli, ukuba abe yinkosi, njengokuthembisa kukaThixo.

These were the leaders of David's powerful warriors who, along with all the Israelites, gave him strong support in becoming king, just as the Lord had promised would happen to Israel.

11 Lolu yiluhlu lwalawo maqhawe kaDavida: UJashobheyamu, umHakhimoni, wayengumlawuli wezikhulu; waphakamisela amadoda angamakhulu amathathu umkhonto wakhe, ababulalayo ekuhlaseleni kunye.

This is the list of the leading warriors who supported David: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, leader of the Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men in a single battle.

12 Yena elandelwa ngu-Eliyazari indodana kaDodo umʼAhohi omunye wamaqhawe amathathu.

After him came Eleazar, son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the Three leading warriors.

13 WayeloDavida ePhasi Damimi, ekuhlomeni kwamaFilistiya elungiselela ukudibana empini. Endaweni ethile kwakulensimu yebhali, amabutho abaleka ebalekela amaFilistiya.

He was with David at Pas-dammin when the Philistines gathered for battle that took place in a field full of barley. The Israelite army ran away when the Philistines attacked,

14 Kodwa bona bema bajama phakathi kwensimu. Bayivikela bawabulala amaFilistiya, uThixo wabapha ukunqoba okukhulu.

but David and Eleazar took a stand in the middle of the field, defending their ground and killing the Philistines. The Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.

15 Izinduna ezintathu kwezingamatshumi amathathu zaya edwaleni kuDavida ebhalwini lwase-Adulami, ngalesosikhathi amanye amaFilistiya ayebuthene eSigodini saseRefayi.

Another time, the Three, who were part of the Thirty leading warriors, went down to meet David when he was at the cave of Adullam. The Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim.

16 Ngalesosikhathi uDavida wayesenqabeni, iviyo lamabutho amaFilistiya laliseBhethilehema.

At the time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.

17 UDavida womela amanzi wasesithi, “Oh, sengathi kungaba lomuntu ongangikhela amanzi okunatha emthonjeni oseduze lesango laseBhethilehema!”

David was feeling really thirsty, and he said, “If only someone could bring me a drink of water from the well beside the entrance gate to Bethlehem!”

18 Ngakho abathathu laba badabula phakathi kweviyo lamaFilistiya bayakukha amanzi eduzane lesango laseBhethilehema bayawanika uDavida. Kodwa wala ukuwanatha, wakhetha ukuwathululela phambi kukaThixo.

The Three broke through the Philistine defenses, took some water from the well at Bethelehem's gate, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it, and poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

19 Wasesithi, “UNkulunkulu kangangivumeli ukukwenza lokhu! Kufanele yini ukuthi nginathe igazi lalababantu abanikele impilo yabo engozini bewaletha?” Ngoba babeka impilo zabo engozini bewaletha, uDavida kawanathanga. Lezi zaziyizenzo zobuqhawe zalawomabutho womathathu.

“God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “It would be like drinking the blood of these men who risked their lives! They risked their lives to bring me a drink.” So he did not drink it. This is just some of the things the Three leading warriors did.

20 U-Abhishayi umfowabo kaJowabi wayeyinduna yabaThathu labo. Waphakamisela umkhonto wakhe phezu kwabangamakhulu amathathu, ababulalayo, ngakho waba lodumo njengabaThathu.

Abishai, Joab's brother, was leader of the second Three. Using his spear, he once killed 300 men, and became famous among the Three.

21 Waba lodumo oluphindwe kabili phezu kwalaba abaThathu waze waba ngumlawuli wabo, loba engazange abe phakathi kwabo.

He was the most highly regarded of the Three and was their commander, though he was not one of the first Three.

22 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada wayeliqhawe elilesibindi laseKhabhizeli, elenza izenzo zobuqhawe obukhulu. Wabulala amaqhawe amaMowabi amabili ayezintshantshu ekulweni. Wake wangena emgodini wabulala isilwane mhla kulongqwaqwane.

Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a strong warrior from Kabzeel, did many amazing things. He killed two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went after a lion into a pit in the snow and killed it.

23 Wabulala umGibhithe owayemude okwezingalo eyisikhombisa njalo eqatha. Lanxa umGibhithe wayephethe umkhonto esandleni kwakungani uphethe umkhonto onjengogodo lomaluki, uBhenayiya waqondana laye ngenduku. Wahluthuna umkhonto esandleni somGibhithe wambulala ngawo umkhonto wakhe.

Another time he killed an Egyptian—a huge man who stood seven foot six inches tall. The Egyptian had a spear whose shaft was as thick as a weaver's rod. Benaiah attacked him with just a club, but he was able to grab the spear from the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.

24 Lezi zaziyizenzo zobuqhawe zikaBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, laye futhi wayedume njengamaqhawe amathathu.

These were the kind of things Benaiah did that made him as famous as the Three leading warriors.

25 Wayehlonitshwa kakhulu ukwedlula bonke abangamatshumi amathathu, kodwa wayengabalwa kanye labaThathu. UDavida wambeka ukuba abe ngumphathi wabalindi bakhe.

He was the most highly regarded of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. David put him in charge of his personal bodyguard.

26 Amaqhawe ayelamandla ayeyila: u-Asaheli umfowabo kaJowabi, u-Elihanani indodana kaDodo waseBhethilehema,

Other leading warriors were: Asahel, Joab's brother; Elhanan, son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;

27 uShamothi umHarori, uHelezi umPheloni,

Shammoth the Harorite; Helez the Pelonite;

28 u-Ira indodana ka-Ikheshi waseThekhowa, u-Abhiyezeri wase-Anathothi,

Ira, son of Ikkesh from Tekoa; Abiezer from Anathoth;

29 uSibhekhayi umHushathi, u-Ilayi umʼAhohi,

Sibbecai the Hushathite; Ilai the Ahohite;

30 uMaharayi umNethofathi, uHeledi indodana kaBhana umNethofa,

Maharai of Netophah; Heled, son of Baanah of Netophah;

31 u-Ithayi indodana kaRibhayi owaseGibhiya koBhenjamini, uBhenaya umPhirathoni,

Ithai, son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites; Benaiah the Pirathonite;

32 uHurayi wasezindongeni zaseGashi, u-Abhiyeli umʼAribhathi,

Hurai from the valleys of Gaash; Abiel the Arbathite;

33 u-Azimavethi umBhaharumi, u-Eliyaba umShalibhoni,

Azmaveth the Baharumite; Eliahba the Shaalbonite;

34 amadodana kaHashemi umGizoni, uJonathani indodana kaShageye umHarari,

the sons of Hashem the Gizonite; Jonathan, son of Shagee the Hararite;

35 u-Ahiyamu indodana kaSakhari umHarari, u-Elifali indodana ka-Uri,

Ahiam, son of Sachar the Hararite; Eliphal, son of Ur;

36 uHeferi indodana kaMekherathi, u-Ahija umPheloni,

Hepher the Mecherathite; Ahijah the Pelonite;

37 uHeziro umKhameli, uNarayi indodana ka-Ezibhayi,

Hezro the Carmelite; Naarai, son of Ezbai;

38 uJoweli umfowabo kaNathani, uMibhari indodana kaHagiri,

Joel the Nathan's brother; Mibhar, son of Hagri;

39 uZelekhi umʼAmoni, uNaharayi umBherothi, owayethwala izikhali zikaJowabi indodana kaZeruya,

Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai the Beerothite; Joab's armor-bearer, son of Zeruiah;

40 u-Ira umʼIthira, uGarebhi umʼIthiri,

Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;

41 u-Uriya umHithi, uZabhadi indodana ka-Ahilayi,

Uriah the Hittite; Zabad son of Ahlai;

42 lo-Adina indodana kaShiza owakoRubheni, owayeyinduna yakoRubheni, kanye labangamatshumi amathathu ababelaye,

Adina, son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites, and the thirty who were with him;

43 loHanani indodana kaMahakha, loJoshafathi umʼMithini,

Hanan, son of Maacah; Joshaphat the Mithnite;

44 lo-Uziya umʼAshitherathi, loShama loJeyiyeli amadodana kaHothamu umʼAroweri,

Uzzia the Ashterathite; Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite;

45 loJediyeli indodana kaShimiri, umfowabo uJoha umThizi,

Jediael, son of Shimri, and his brother, Joha the Tizite;

46 lo-Eliyeli umʼMahavi, loJeribhayi loJoshaviya amadodana ka-Elinamu, lo-Ithima waseMowabi,

Eliel the Mahavite; Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam; Ithmah the Moabite;

47 lo-Eliyeli, lo-Obhedi kanye loJasiyeli waseMezobha.

Eliel; Obed; and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.