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.

And it came to pass after this, [that] Naas the king of the children of Ammon died, and Anan his son reigned in his stead.

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 act kindly toward Anan the son of Naas, as his father acted kindly towards me. And David sent messengers to condole with him on the death of his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Anan, to comfort 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?"

And the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Anan, Is it to honour thy father before thee, that David has sent comforters to thee? Have not his servants come to thee that they might search the city, and to spy out the land?

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.

And Anan took the servants of David, and shaved them, and cut off the half of their garments as far as their tunic, 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."

And there came men to report to David concerning the men: and he sent to meet them, for they were greatly disgraced: and the king said, Dwell in Jericho until your beards have grown, and 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.

And the children of Ammon saw that the people of David were ashamed, and Anan and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen out of Syria of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria Maacha, and from Sobal.

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.

And they hired for themselves two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maacha and his people; and they came and encamped before Medaba: and the children of Ammon assembled out of their cities, and came to fight.

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

And David heard, and sent Joab and all the host 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.

And the children of Ammon came forth, and set themselves in array for battle by the gate of the city: and the kings that were come forth encamped by themselves in the plain.

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.

And Joab saw that they were fronting [him] to fight against him before and behind, and he chose [some] out of all the young men of Israel, and they set themselves in array against the Syrian.

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 the rest of the people he gave into the hand of his brother Abesai, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

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.

And he said, If the Syrian should prevail against me, then shalt thou deliver me: and if the children of Ammon should prevail against thee, then will I deliver thee.

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

Be of good courage, and let us be strong, for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord shall do what [is] good in his eyes.

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 the people that were with him set themselves in battle array against the Syrians, and they fled from them.

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.

And the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, and they also fled from before Abesai, and from before Joab his brother, and they came to the city: and Joab came 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.

And the Syrian saw that Israel had defeated him, and he sent messengers, and they brought out the Syrians from beyond the river; and Sophath the commander-in-chief of the forces of Adraazar [was] before 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.

And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and crossed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So David set [his army] in array to fight against the Syrians, and 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.

And the Syrians fled from before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand [riders in] chariots, and forty thousand infantry, and he slew Sophath the commander-in-chief of the forces.

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.

And the servants of Adraazar saw that they were defeated before Israel, and they made peace with David and served him: and the Syrians would not any more help the children of Ammon.