10. Ukumkani wathi: “Ayifuni nina le nto, bonyana bakaZeruya. Ukuba undithuka ngokuthunywa nguNdikhoyo, ngubani onegunya lokuthi kuye: ‘Uyenzela ntoni le nto?’ ”
11. Uqhube wathi uDavide, ebhekisa kuAbhishayi nakumaphakathi akhe onke: “Ingunyana wam ozelwe ndim nje lo ufuna ukundibulala, nothuswa yintoni kule nto yenziwa ngulo mBhenjamin? NguNdikhoyo othe makandithuke; myekeni ke andithuke.
12. UNdikhoyo angahle ayibone le ntlupheko ndikuyo, andithamsanqele endaweni yesiqalekiso salo mntu.”
13. Bahamba indlela yabo ke ooDavide. Wahamba ngaphezu kwenduli leyo uShimeyi eshwabula, egxoga ngamatye, eqhumisa uthuli.
14. Ukufika kukakumkani neqela lakhe eJordan babesebefile kukudinwa, bakha baphumla apho.
15. Wagaleleka eJerusalem uAbhasalom, ehamba namaSirayeli onke, kukho noAhitofele.
16. Wathi uHushayi umArki, umhlobo othembekileyo kaDavide, akuthi thu uAbhasalom, wakhahlela esithi: “Huntshu-u-u! Khul' ud' ukhokhobe, kumkani!”
17. UAbhasalom wathi kuHushayi: “Tyhini, yindlela obonakalisa ukuthembeka kwakho kumhlobo wakho uDavide le! Kutheni ungahambanga naye nje?”
18. UHushayi wathi kuAbhasalom: “Ndingayenza njani into enjalo? Mna ndingakwicala lalowo utyunjwe *nguNdikhoyo nangabantu nangamaSirayeli ephela. Ndiza kuhamba nawe.
19. Kakade ke ndingathoba phantsi kukabani xa ingenguye unyana wenkosi? Ndiza kuthoba phantsi kwakho ngoku njengoko bendisenza kuyihlo.”
20. Ubuzile ke kuAhitofele uAbhasalom wathi: “Ucebisa ntoni ke? Ngaba masithini?”
21. UAhitofele wathi kuAbhasalom: “Yiya kungena kumaqadi kayihlo, lawa awagcinise ibhotwe. Ngaloo ndlela indlu yonke kaSirayeli iya kuqonda ukuba uzinukisile kuyihlo, babe nesibindi ke ngoko abakulandelayo.”