1 I t happened after this that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

After this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. And his son became king in his place.

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 comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon 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 A nd the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you 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 T herefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, at 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 some went and told David about the men; and he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have 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 W hen the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from 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 for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered 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 N ow when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.

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

9 T hen the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had 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 W hen Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle 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 put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people 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 T hen he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

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 be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

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 who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, 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 W hen the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went 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 N ow when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.

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 W hen it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan and came upon them, and set up in battle array against them. So when David had set up in battle 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 T hen the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.

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 Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were not willing to help the people of Ammon anymore.

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.