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.

After this Nahash the king of the Ammonites 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.

David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent men to bring him comfort in his sorrow for his father. David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon, to bring him comfort.

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 giving honor to your father by sending men to comfort you? Have not his servants come to spy out the land and destroy it?”

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 cut the hair from their faces. Then he cut off the bottom half of their clothing, 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.

When David was told what had happened to his servants, he sent men out to meet them because the workmen were very ashamed. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces, 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.

The sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves to be hated by David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent silver weighing as much as 1, 000 men, to get war-wagons and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and 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.

They paid for 32, 000 war-wagons and for the king of Maacah and his army who came and set up their tents by Medeba. Then 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 of his strong 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 were ready for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

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.

Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind. So he chose some of the best men of Israel and they made themselves ready to fight the Syrians.

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 he had his brother Abishai lead the rest of the men. And they made themselves ready to fight 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.

Joab said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then 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; let us show our strength of heart because of our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what is good in His eyes.”

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 men who were with him came near to fight against the Syrians. And the Syrians ran away from 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.

The sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians ran away. So they ran away from Joab’s brother Abishai, and went into 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.

The Syrians saw that they had lost the war with Israel. So they sent men with news, and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River. Shophach the captain of Hadadezer’s army was 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 David was told about it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. He came to them, and made his army ready to fight against them. When David made his army ready for battle, the Syrians 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.

And the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 7, 000 Syrians who drove war-wagons and 40, 000 Syrian foot soldiers. And he killed Shophach the captain 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.

Hadadezer’s servants saw that they had lost the war against Israel. So they made peace with David and worked for him. The Syrians were not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.