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

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

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

Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.

3 B ut the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “ Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

4 S o 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 and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.

5 T hen there went certain persons, and 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 be grown, and then return.

Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “ Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”

6 A nd when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.

When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah.

7 S o they hired them thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

So they hired for themselves 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.

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

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

9 A nd the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.

The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 N ow 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 Syrians.

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.

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

But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.

12 A nd he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

13 B e of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

14 S o Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

15 A nd when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 A nd when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them.

17 A nd it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against him.

18 A nd the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7, 000 charioteers and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army.

19 A nd when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.