18. UEliya waphendula ngelithi: “Khange ndiwahlisele mna intlekele amaSirayeli. Kodwa nguwe nendlu kayihlo lo uhlisele amaSirayeli intlekele. Imithetho kaNdikhoyo uyityeshele, waza walandelana nooBhali.
19. Khawubaqokelele bonke abantu bakwaSirayeli, ukuze ndihlangane nabo phezu kwentaba iKarmele. Uze ungabashiyi abashumayeli bakaBhali abamakhulu mane namashumi amahlanu, kananjalo nabashumayeli baka-Ashera abamakhulu mane, abo batya kwisithebe sikaJezebhele.”
20. Ngoko ke uAhabhi wathumela ilizwi kuSirayeli ephela, wabaqokelela kwintaba iKarmele bonke abashumayeli.
21. UEliya wasondela kubo ke abo bantu, waza wathi: “Koda kube nini na nimbaxa! Ukuba uNdikhoyo nguye uThixo, landelani yena; kanti ke ukuba uBhali nguThixo, landelani yena kaloku.” Kwasuka kwathi cwaka.
22. UEliya wabhekisa ebantwini wathi: “Ndim ndodwa umshumayeli kaNdikhoyo oshiyekileyo, kodwa ke yena uBhali usenabashumayeli abangamakhulu amane anamashumi amahlanu.