1 A fter this, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his stead.

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

2 D avid said, I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father’s death. So the servants of David came into the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun.

And David said, I will show mercy unto Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father showed mercy to me. And David sent ambassadors to comfort him concerning his father. So the slaves of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3 B ut the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, Do you think that David has sent comforters to you because he honors your father? Have his servants not come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, Does it seem unto thee that David honours thy father, that he has sent comforters unto thee? Are not his slaves come unto thee to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?

4 T herefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle near their buttocks, and sent them away.

Then Hanun took David’s slaves and shaved them, and cut off their garments in half, exposing their buttocks and sent them away.

5 W hen David was told how the men were served, he sent to meet them, for were greatly shamed and embarrassed. The king said, Stay in Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.

Then they left, and it was told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards are grown and then return.

6 W hen the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves hateful to David, Hanun and sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia and Aram-maacah and Zobah.

¶ And when the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen out of Syria of the rivers (Mesopotamia), and out of Syria of Maachah and out of Zobah.

7 S o they hired 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his troops, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered from their cities and came to battle.

So they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched camp before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and came to battle.

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

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.

9 A nd the Ammonites came out and lined up in battle array before the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

And the sons of Ammon came out and put the battle in order before the gate of the city, and the kings that had come were by themselves in the field.

10 W hen Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.

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

11 T he rest of the soldiers he delivered to Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.

And he put the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai, his brother, putting them in order against the sons of Ammon.

12 A nd he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.

And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou shalt save me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will save thee.

13 B e of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God; and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

14 S o Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.

So Joab and the people that were with him drew near before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

15 A nd when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem.

16 W hen the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they sent ambassadors and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river, whose captain was Shophach, the prince of the host of Hadarezer.

17 I t was told to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan and drew up his army against them. So when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel and passed over the Jordan and came upon them and ordered his host against them. And when David had put his troops in order against the Syrians, they fought with him.

18 B ut the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians 7, 000 men in chariots and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.

But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians those of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen; likewise he killed Shophach, the captain of the host.

19 W hen the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him; nor would the Syrians any longer help the Ammonites.

And when the slaves of Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants; neither would the Syrians help the sons of Ammon any more.