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

After this, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 T hen 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.

David 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.

3 B ut 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?”

But 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?

4 S o 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.

Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle near their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 T hen 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.”

When 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.

6 W hen 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.

When 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.

7 S o 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.

So 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.

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

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

9 T he 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

And 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.

10 N ow 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.

When 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.

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

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

12 H e 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.

And 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.

13 B e 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.”

Be 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.

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

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

15 W hen 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.

And 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.

16 W hen 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.

When 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.

17 W hen 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.

It 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.

18 T he 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.

But 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.

19 S o 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.

When 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.