Kings II 10

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

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

2 And David said, I will show mercy to Annon the son of Naas, as his father dealt mercifully with me. And David sent to comfort him concerning his father by the hand of his servants; and the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon.

Then said David—I will shew lovingkindness unto Hanun son of Nahash, as his father shewed, unto me, lovingkindness. So David sent to comfort him, by the hand of his servants, as to his father, —and the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Annon their lord, [Is it] to honour your father before you that David has sent comforters to you? Has not David rather sent his servants to you that they should search the city, and spy it out and examine it?

Then said the rulers of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun their lord—Is David honouring thy father, in thine eyes, that he hath sent unto thee comforters? Is it not, for the sake of exploring the city, and spying it out, and overthrowing it, that David hath sent his servants unto thee?

4 And Annon took the servants of David, and shaved their beards, and cut off their garments in the midst as far as their haunches, and sent them away.

Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their upper garments in the middle, as far as their buttocks, —and let them go.

5 And they brought David word concerning the men; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonoured: and the king said, Remain in Jericho till your beards have grown, and [then] you shall return.

And, when they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed, —and the king said—Tarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown, then shall ye return.

6 And the children of Ammon saw that the people of David were ashamed; and the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Baethraam, and the Syrians of Suba, and Roob, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Amalec with a thousand men, and Istob with twelve thousand men.

And, when the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious with David, the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba—twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah—a thousand men, and men of Tob—twelve thousand men.

7 And David heard, and sent Joab and all his host, [even] the mighty men.

And, when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes,

8 And the children of Ammon went forth, and set the battle in array by the door of the gate: [those] of Syria, Suba, and Roob, and Istob, and Amalec, being by themselves in the field.

And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for battle, at the entrance of the gate, —whereas, the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and of Maacah, were by themselves, in the field.

9 And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him from that which was opposed in front and from behind, and he chose out [some] of all the young men of Israel, and they set themselves in array against Syria.

And, when Joab saw that the front of the battle was towards him, before and behind, he chose out of all the chosen men of Israel, and set them in array against the Syrians;

10 And the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abessa his brother, and they set the battle in array opposite to the children of Ammon.

while, the rest of the people, he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, —and set [them] in array against the sons of Ammon.

11 And he said, If Syria be too strong for me, then shall you help me: and if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then will we be ready to help you.

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

12 Be you courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, and the Lord shall do that which is good in his eyes.

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, Yahweh, do what is good in his own eyes.

13 And Joab and his people with him advanced to battle against Syria, and they fled from before him.

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, to fight against the Syrians, —and they fled before him.

14 And the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, and they fled from before Abessa, and entered into the city: and Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled they before Abishai, and entered the city, —so Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and entered Jerusalem.

15 And the Syrians saw that they were worsted before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.

And, when the Syrians saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together;

16 And Adraazar sent and gathered the Syrians from the other side of the river Chalamak, and they came to Aelam; and Sobac the captain of the host of Adraazar [was] at their head.

and Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River, and they entered Helam, —Shobach the prince of the host of Hadadezer being before them.

17 And it was reported to David, and he gathered all Israel, and went over Jordan, and came to Aelam: and the Syrians set the battle in array against David, and fought with him.

And, when it was told David, he gathered together all Israel, and passed over the Jordan, and entered Helam, —and the Syrians set themselves in array to meet David, and fought with him.

18 And Syria fled from before Israel, and David destroyed of Syria seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and he struck Sobac the captain of his host, and he died there.

Then fled the Syrians before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, —Shobach also, prince of their host, smote he, that he died, there.

19 And all the kings the servants of Adraazar saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, and they went over to Israel, and served them: and Syria was afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.

And, when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them, —and the Syrians feared to give help any more unto the sons of Ammon.