1 Chronicles 19

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

Now it came about after this that death came to Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, and his son became king in his place.

2 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.

And David said, I will be a friend to Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father was a friend to me. So David sent men to him, to give him words of comfort on account of his father. And the servants of David came to Hanun, to the land of the children of Ammon, offering him comfort.

3 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?

But the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Does it seem to you that David is honouring your father, by sending comforters to you? is it not clear that these men have only come to go through the land and to make secret observation of it so that they may overcome it?

4 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.

So Hanun took David's servants, and cutting off their hair and the skirts of their robes up to the middle, sent them away.

5 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.

Then certain men went and gave David word of what had been done to them. And he sent out with the purpose of meeting them; for the men were greatly shamed. And the king said, Keep where you are at Jericho till your hair is long again, and then come back.

6 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.

And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves hated by David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver as payment for war-carriages and horsemen from Mesopotamia and 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 pitched before Medeba, —and the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and entered into the war.

So with this money they got thirty-two thousand war-carriages, and the help of the king of Maacah and his people, who came and took up their position in front of Medeba. And the children of Ammon came together from their towns for the fight.

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

And David, hearing of it, sent Joab with all the army of fighting-men.

9 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.

So the children of Ammon came out and put their forces in position on the way into the town; and the kings who had come were stationed by themselves in the field.

10 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;

Now when Joab saw that their forces were in position against him in front and at his back, he took all the best men of Israel, and put them in line against the Aramaeans;

11 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.

And the rest of the people he put in position against the children of Ammon with Abishai, his brother, at their head.

12 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.

And he said, If the Aramaeans are stronger and get the better of me, then come to my help; and if the children of Ammon get the better of you, I will come to your help.

13 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.

Take heart, and let us be strong for our people and for the towns of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.

14 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.

So Joab and the people who were with him went forward into the fight against the Aramaeans, and they went in flight before him.

15 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.

And when the children of Ammon saw the flight of the Aramaeans, they themselves went in flight from Abishai, his brother, and came into the town. Then Joab came back to Jerusalem.

16 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.

And when the Aramaeans saw that Israel had overcome them, they sent men to get the Aramaeans who were on the other side of the River, with Shophach, the captain of Hadadezer's army, at their head.

17 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.

And word of this was given to David; and he got all Israel together and went over Jordan and came to Helam and put his forces in position against them. And when David's forces were in position against the Aramaeans, the fight was started.

18 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.

And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to the sword the men of seven thousand Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand footmen, and put to death Shophach, the captain of the army.

19 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.

And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were overcome by Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants: and the Aramaeans would give no more help to the children of Ammon.