1 Chronicles 19

1 Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son.

2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him,

3 the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

7 So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba while the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and marched out for battle.

8 On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

9 The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country.

10 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

11 And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

12 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

13 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

14 So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joab’s brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him.

18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.

19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.

1 ¶ Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 Then there went [certain], and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

8 And when David heard [of it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come [were] by themselves in the field.

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians.

11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set [themselves] in array against the children of Ammon.

12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do [that which is] good in his sight.

14 So Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set [the battle] in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand [men which fought in] chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

1 And after these things died Nahash king of the children of Ammon, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said, I will shew mercy unto Hanon the son of Naha: for his father hath shewed mercy unto me. And he sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon unto Hanon to comfort him,

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanon, Dost thou think that David will honour thy father in thy sight, because he hath sent comforters unto thee? Yea, his servants are come unto thee to search, and to return, and to search the land.

4 And Hanon took David's servants, and shod them, and cut off half their garments even to the loins, and sent them away.

5 And they went away, and told David by men. And he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly defiled. And the king said, Tarry ye at Jericho, till your beard be grown; and come again.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, they sent, both Hanon and the children of Ammon, a thousand talents of silver, chariots, and horsemen, out of Mesopotamia, and out of Maechah, and out of Zobah.

7 And there were thirty and two thousand chariots, and king Maechah and his people: and they came and pitched before Medbah. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves also out of their cities, and came to battle.

8 And when David heard it, he sent Joab with all the host of the mighty men.

9 And the children of Ammon went out, and prepared themselves to battle before the gate of the city. And the kings that were come kept the battle in the field.

10 And when Joab saw that there was war against him before and behind, he chose out of all the young men of Israel, and armed himself against the Syrians.

11 And the rest of the people he put under the hand of Abishai his brother, to prepare themselves against the children of Ammon.

12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, come to my help: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, I will help thee.

13 Be of good cheer, and let us be of good cheer for our people, and for the cities of our God. Let the LORD do what pleases him!

14 And Joab came near with the people that were with him to fight against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled also from Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they sent messengers, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river. And Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

17 And it came to pass, when it was told David, that he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan: and when he came to them, he armed himself against them. And David armed himself against the Syrians to battle, and they fought with him.

18 But the Syrians fled before Israel. And David slew of the Syrians seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand men of foot: and he slew Shophach the captain of the host.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with David and with his servants. And the Syrians would not help the children of Ammon any more.