1 Chronicles 19

1 And it happened after this, that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his place.

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

2 David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the people of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

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 But the leaders of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?"

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, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

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

5 Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

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 people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Aram Maacah, and out of Zobah.

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, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. The people of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

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.

8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.

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

9 The people of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

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 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Arameans.

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 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the people of Ammon.

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

12 He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

“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 courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God. May YHWH do that which seems good to him."

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 the people who were with him drew near before the Arameans to the battle; and they fled before him.

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

15 When the people of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

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 were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Arameans who were beyond the River, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

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 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him.

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 The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shobach the captain of the army.

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 the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Arameans help the people of Ammon any more.

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.