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1 Chronicles 19
Common English Bible
1 Chronicles 19
Common English Bible
War with the Ammonites and Arameans
19 Some time later, the Ammonite King Nahash died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 “I’ll be loyal to Nahash’s son Hanun,” David said, “because his father was loyal to me.” So David sent messengers with condolences about his father’s death.
But when David’s servants arrived in the Ammonite territory to express his sympathy to Hanun, 3 the Ammonite leaders asked Hanun, “Do you really believe David is honoring your father because he has sent you condolences? Of course not! His servants have come to search the city, spy it out, and overthrow it!” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, cut off half their garments from their buttocks down, and sent them off.
5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to the men because they were completely ashamed. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown. Then you can come back.”
6 When the Ammonites realized that they had offended David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent one thousand kikkars of silver to hire chariots and cavalry for themselves from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as King Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba, while the Ammonites left their cities and came together ready for battle. 8 When David heard this, he sent Joab and the entire army of warriors. 9 The Ammonites marched out and formed a battle line at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come remained in the countryside.
10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s finest warriors and deployed them to meet the Arameans. 11 The rest of the army Joab placed under the command of his brother Abishai. When they took up their positions to meet the Arameans, 12 Joab said, “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, you must help me, and if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I’ll help you. 13 Be brave! We must be courageous for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his eyes.”
14 When Joab and the troops who were with him advanced into battle against the Arameans, they fled from him. 15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from his brother Abishai and retreated into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16 The Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel. They sent out messengers to bring Aramean reinforcements from the other side of the river, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army at their head. 17 Upon hearing this, David gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. David advanced and took up positions against the Arameans to meet them in battle. After initiating the battle, 18 the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand Aramean chariot drivers and forty thousand foot soldiers. Shophach the commander of their army was killed too. 19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Never again would the Arameans come to the aid of the Ammonites.
1 Chronicles 19
New International Version
1 Chronicles 19
New International Version
David Defeats the Ammonites(A)
19 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites(B) died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out(C) the country and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious(D) to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents[a] of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim,[b] Aram Maakah and Zobah.(E) 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba,(F) while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.
8 On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai(G) his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”
14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.
16 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel(H) and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.
19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.
So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
- 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
1 Crónicas 19
Reina-Valera Antigua
1 Crónicas 19
Reina-Valera Antigua
19 DESPUÉS de estas cosas aconteció que murió Naas rey de los hijos de Ammón, y reinó en su lugar su hijo.
2 Y dijo David: Haré misericordia con Hanán hijo de Naas, porque también su padre hizo conmigo misericordia. Así David envió embajadores que lo consolasen de la muerte de su padre. Mas venidos los siervos de David en la tierra de los hijos de Ammón á Hanán, para consolarle,
3 Los príncipes de los hijos de Ammón dijeron á Hanán: ¿A tu parecer honra David á tu padre, que te ha enviado consoladores? ¿no vienen antes sus siervos á ti para escudriñar, é inquirir, y reconocer la tierra?
4 Entonces Hanán tomó los siervos de David, y rapólos, y cortóles los vestidos por medio, hasta las nalgas, y despachólos.
5 Fuéronse pues, y dada que fué la nueva á David de aquellos varones, él envió á recibirlos, porque estaban muy afrentados. E hízoles decir el rey: Estaos en Jericó hasta que os crezca la barba, y entonces volveréis.
6 Y viendo los hijos de Ammón que se habían hecho odiosos á David, Hanán y los hijos de Ammón enviaron mil talentos de plata, para tomar á sueldo carros y gente de á caballo de Siria de los ríos, y de la Siria de Maachâ, y de Soba.
7 Y tomaron á sueldo treinta y dos mil carros, y al rey de Maachâ y á su pueblo, los cuales vinieron y asentaron su campo delante de Medeba. Y juntáronse también los hijos de Ammón de sus ciudades, y vinieron á la guerra.
8 Oyéndolo David, envió á Joab con todo el ejército de los hombres valientes.
9 Y los hijos de Ammón salieron, y ordenaron su tropa á la entrada de la ciudad; y los reyes que habían venido, estaban por sí en el campo.
10 Y viendo Joab que la haz de la batalla estaba contra él delante y á las espaldas, escogió de todos los más aventajados que había en Israel, y ordenó su escuadrón contra los Sirios.
11 Puso luego el resto de la gente en mano de Abisai su hermano, ordenándolos en batalla contra los Ammonitas.
12 Y dijo: Si los Siros fueren más fuertes que yo, tú me salvarás; y si los Ammonitas fueren más fuertes que tú, yo te salvaré.
13 Esfuérzate, y esforcémonos por nuestro pueblo, y por las ciudades de nuestro Dios; y haga Jehová lo que bien le pareciere.
14 Acercóse luego Joab y el pueblo que tenía consigo, para pelear contra los Siros; mas ellos huyeron delante de él.
15 Y los hijos de Ammón, viendo que los Siros habían huído, huyeron también ellos delante de Abisai su hermano, y entráronse en la ciudad. Entonces Joab se volvió á Jerusalem.
16 Y viendo los Siros que habían caído delante de Israel, enviaron embajadores, y trajeron á los Siros que estaban de la otra parte del río, cuyo capitán era Sophach, general del ejército de Adarezer.
17 Luego que fué dado aviso á David, juntó á todo Israel, y pasando el Jordán vino á ellos, y ordenó contra ellos su ejército. Y como David hubo ordenado su tropa contra ellos, pelearon con él los Siros.
18 Mas el Siro huyó delante de Israel; y mató David de los Siros siete mil hombres de los carros, y cuarenta mil hombres de á pie: asimismo mató á Sophach, general del ejército.
19 Y viendo los Siros de Adarezer que habían caído delante de Israel, concertaron paz con David, y fueron sus siervos; y nunca más quiso el Siro ayudar á los hijos de Ammón.
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
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Reina-Valera Antigua (RVA)