1 Chronicles 19

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

And it came to pass, after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon died, —and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

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,

Then said David—I will show lovingkindness unto Hanun, son of Nahash, —for his father shewed unto me lovingkindness. So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father, —and the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, 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?”

Then said the rulers of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, Doth David honour thy father in thine eyes, that he hath sent to thee comforters? Is it not, for the sake of exploring and overthrowing, and spying out the land, that his servants have come to thee?

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

So Hanun took the servants of David, and shaved them, and cut off their upper garments in the middle, as far as their parts of shame, —and let them go.

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.”

And people went and told David, concerning the men, so he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed, —and the king said—Tarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown, 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.

And, when the sons of Ammon saw, that they had made themselves odious with David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire for themselves—out of Mesopotamia, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah, —chariots, and horsemen.

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 came from their cities and marched out for battle.

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah, and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba, —and the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and entered into the war.

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

Now, when David heard, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes.

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.

And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for the battle, at the opening of the city, —whereas, the kings who had come, were by themselves, in the field.

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.

So, when Joab saw that the battle confronted him, before and behind, —he chose out of all the choice in Israel, and set in array to meet the Syrians;

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

and, the rest of the people, delivered he into the hand of Abishai his brother, —and they set in array, to meet the sons of Ammon.

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.

And he said—If, too strong for me, be the Syrians, then shalt thou come to my help, —but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I help thee.

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.”

Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, —and let, Yahweh, do, what is good in his own eyes.

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

Then did Joab, and all the people who were with him, draw near before the Syrians unto the battle, —and they fled from 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.

And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled, they also, from before Abishai his brother, and entered the city, —and Joab came 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.

And when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated before Israel, then sent they messengers, and brought out the Syrians who were Beyond the River, —with Shophach captain of the army of Hadarezer, before 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.

And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and crossed the Jordan, and came unto them, and set in array against them, —and, when David had set in array against the Syrians for battle, they fought with 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.

And the Syrians fled from before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians [the men of] seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, —and, Shophach captain of the army, he put to death.

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.

And, when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and served him, —neither would the Syrians help the sons of Ammon any more.