1 Chronicles 19
Modern English Version
David Defeats the Ammonites(A)
19 Now it happened after this that Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. 2 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 comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to comfort him.
3 But the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he sent consolers? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 So Hanun took the servants of David, shaved them, cut their garments in half as far as the hip, and sent them away.
5 Then some came and told David about the men, so he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Remain in Jericho until your beards grow full, and then return.”
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent one thousand talents[a] of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah, and Zobah. 7 So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maakah and his people. They camped before Medeba as the Ammonites gathered from their cities to go out to war.
8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 9 So the Ammonites went out and formed ranks for battle at the entrance to the city while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
10 When Joab saw the battle line was drawn in front of him and behind him, he chose some of the best men in Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. 11 The rest of the people he placed in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they took up positions to engage the Ammonites. 12 Then he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you will come help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come help you. 13 Take courage, and let us prove worthy of our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord do what seems right to Him.”
14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother and entered the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and summoned the Arameans who were beyond the River,[b] and Shophak, the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.
17 When David was told about it, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came against them. He divided his ranks and prepared to engage the Arameans in battle, so they fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand chariot drivers and forty thousand infantry men of the Arameans, and killed Shophak, the commander of the army.
19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they negotiated peace with David and served him.
So the Arameans were not willing to aid the Ammonites in battle again.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 About 38 tons, or 34 metric tons.
- 1 Chronicles 19:16 Euphrates River.
1 Chronicles 19
21st Century King James Version
19 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
2 And David said, “I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him.
3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, 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?”
4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle by their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 Then went certain ones 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 have grown, and then return.”
6 And 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 for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia and from Syriamaachah and from Zobah.
7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched camp before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and came to battle.
8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.
9 And the children of Ammon came out and assembled in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10 Now when Joab saw that the battle line was formed against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God; and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight.”
14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle, and they fled before him.
15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the river; and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.
17 And it was told to David; and he gathered all Israel, 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.
18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants; neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.
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