1. Unyana kaJerubhali uAbhimeleki waya eShekem kooninalume, wafika wathetha nabo nemizalwana yonke yendlu kayise nonina, wathi:
2. “Khanithethe nabemi baseShekem xa bebonke, nithi: ‘Nikhetha ntoni na: kukho ukuphathwa ngabo bonke oonyana bakaJerubhali abangamashumi asixhenxe, okanye ukulawulwa nguye abe mnye?’ Khumbulani ukuba ndingumntakwenu.”
3. Ooninalume ke bamthethelela kubemi baseShekem, baza ke nabo bavuma, kuba babesithi: “Ngumntakwethu.”
4. Bamnika amashumi asixhenxe eesiliva ababeyithathe endlwini ekunqulelwa kuyo uBhali womnqophiso, waza yena waqesha ngayo iindlavini ukuba zibe ngamahlakani akhe.
5. Waya nazo kowabo eOfra, waza ke wababulala bonke oonyana bakayise, ebabulalela phezu kwelitye elinye. Kambe ke yona inci kaJerubhali uYotam yazimela yaza yasinda.