Chapter 19

Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died,⁴ and his son reigned⁴ in his stead.

And David said,⁴ I will shew⁴ kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed¹ kindness to me. And David sent⁴ messengers to comfort¹⁵ him concerning his father. So the servants of David came⁴ into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort¹⁵ him.

But the princes of the children of Ammon said⁴ to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour¹⁸ thy father, that he hath sent¹ comforters¹⁸ unto thee? are not his servants come¹ unto thee for to search,² and to overthrow,² and to spy out¹⁵ the land?

Wherefore Hanun took⁴ David's servants, and shaved¹⁷ them, and cut off⁴ their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.¹⁷

Then there went⁴ [certain], and told⁵⁵ David how the men were served. And he sent⁴ to meet² them: for the men were greatly ashamed.¹² And the king said,⁴ Tarry³ at Jericho until your beards be grown,¹⁷ and [then] return.¹

And when the children of Ammon saw⁴ that they had made themselves odious⁹⁸ to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent⁴ a thousand talents of silver to hire² them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, ⁴⁶⁰¹ and out of Zobah.

So they hired⁴ thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came⁴ and pitched⁴ before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered⁸ themselves together from their cities, and came⁴ to battle.

And when David heard⁴ [of it], he sent⁴ Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

And the children of Ammon came out,⁴ and put the battle in array⁴ before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come¹ [were] by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw⁴ that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose⁴ out of all the choice⁷ of Israel, and put [them] in array⁴ against² the Syrians.

And the rest of the people he delivered¹ unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set [themselves] in array⁴ against² the children of Ammon.

And he said,⁴ If the Syrians be too strong⁴ for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong⁴ for thee, then I will help⁵² thee.

Be of good courage,³ and let us behave ourselves valiantly¹⁰¹ for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do⁴ [that which is] good in his sight.

So Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh⁴ before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled⁴ before him.

And when the children of Ammon saw¹ that the Syrians were fled,¹ they likewise fled⁴ before Abishai his brother, and entered⁴ into the city. Then Joab came⁴ to Jerusalem.

And when the Syrians saw⁴ that they were put to the worse⁸ before Israel, they sent⁴ messengers, and drew forth⁵⁵ the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

And it was told⁹³ David; and he gathered⁴ all Israel, and passed over⁴ Jordan, and came⁴ upon them, and set [the battle] in array⁴ against them. So when David had put the battle in array⁴ against² the Syrians, they fought¹¹ with him.

But the Syrians fled⁴ before Israel; and David slew⁴ of the Syrians seven thousand [men which fought in] chariots, and forty thousand footmen, ⁷²⁷³ and killed⁵² Shophach the captain of the host.

And when the servants of Hadarezer saw⁴ that they were put to the worse⁸ before Israel, they made peace⁵⁵ with David, and became his servants:⁴ neither would¹ the Syrians help⁵³ the children of Ammon any more.