David’s Administration(A)

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 (B)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; (C)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 (D)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; [a]Seraiah was the [b]scribe; 18 (E)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the (F)Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [c]chief ministers.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 8:17 Shavsha, 1 Chr. 18:16
  2. 2 Samuel 8:17 secretary
  3. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. priests

David’s Officials(A)

15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right(B) for all his people. 16 Joab(C) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat(D) son of Ahilud was recorder;(E) 17 Zadok(F) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar(G) were priests; Seraiah was secretary;(H) 18 Benaiah(I) son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites(J) and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.[a]

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 8:18 Or were chief officials (see Septuagint and Targum; see also 1 Chron. 18:17)

David’s Administration(A)

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and [a]Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; [b]Shavsha was the scribe; 17 (B)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [c]chief ministers at the king’s side.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Ahimelech, 2 Sam. 8:17
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Seraiah, 2 Sam. 8:17, or Shisha, 1 Kin. 4:3
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:17 Lit. at the hand of the king

David’s Officials(A)

14 David reigned(B) over all Israel,(C) doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab(D) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok(E) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[a](F) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;(G) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek

16 The sons of Levi were (A)Gershon,[a] Kohath, and Merari. 17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei. 18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers: 20 Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, (B)Zimmah his son, 21 [b]Joah his son, [c]Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and [d]Jeatherai his son. 22 The sons of Kohath were [e]Amminadab his son, (C)Korah his son, Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, 24 Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 25 The sons of Elkanah were (D)Amasai and Ahimoth. 26 As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah were [f]Zophai his son, [g]Nahath his son, 27 [h]Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. 28 The sons of Samuel were [i]Joel the firstborn, and Abijah [j]the second. 29 The sons of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, 30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:16 Heb. Gershom, an alternate spelling for Gershon, vv. 1, 17, 20, 43, 62, 71
  2. 1 Chronicles 6:21 Ethan, v. 42
  3. 1 Chronicles 6:21 Adaiah, v. 41
  4. 1 Chronicles 6:21 Ethni, v. 41
  5. 1 Chronicles 6:22 Izhar, vv. 2, 18
  6. 1 Chronicles 6:26 Zuph, v. 35; 1 Sam. 1:1
  7. 1 Chronicles 6:26 Toah, v. 34
  8. 1 Chronicles 6:27 Eliel, v. 34
  9. 1 Chronicles 6:28 So with LXX, Syr., Arab.; cf. v. 33 and 1 Sam. 8:2
  10. 1 Chronicles 6:28 Heb. Vasheni

16 The sons of Levi:(A)

Gershon,[a] Kohath and Merari.(B)

17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon:

Libni and Shimei.(C)

18 The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(D)

19 The sons of Merari:(E)

Mahli and Mushi.(F)

These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers:

20 Of Gershon:

Libni his son, Jahath his son,

Zimmah his son, 21 Joah his son,

Iddo his son, Zerah his son

and Jeatherai his son.

22 The descendants of Kohath:

Amminadab his son, Korah(G) his son,

Assir his son, 23 Elkanah his son,

Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,

24 Tahath his son, Uriel(H) his son,

Uzziah his son and Shaul his son.

25 The descendants of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth,

26 Elkanah his son,[b] Zophai his son,

Nahath his son, 27 Eliab his son,

Jeroham his son, Elkanah(I) his son

and Samuel(J) his son.[c]

28 The sons of Samuel:

Joel[d](K) the firstborn

and Abijah the second son.

29 The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, Libni his son,

Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,

30 Shimea his son, Haggiah his son

and Asaiah his son.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:16 Hebrew Gershom, a variant of Gershon; also in verses 17, 20, 43, 62 and 71
  2. 1 Chronicles 6:26 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts Ahimoth 26 and Elkanah. The sons of Elkanah:
  3. 1 Chronicles 6:27 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Samuel 1:19,20 and 1 Chron. 6:33,34); Hebrew does not have and Samuel his son.
  4. 1 Chronicles 6:28 Some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 8:2 and 1 Chron. 6:33); Hebrew does not have Joel.

50 Now these are the (A)sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, 52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok his son, and Ahimaaz his son.

Read full chapter

50 These were the descendants of Aaron:

Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son,

Abishua his son, 51 Bukki his son,

Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,

52 Meraioth his son, Amariah his son,

Ahitub his son, 53 Zadok(A) his son

and Ahimaaz his son.

Read full chapter

Musicians in the House of the Lord

31 Now these are (A)the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the (B)ark came to rest. 32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.

33 And these are the ones who [a]ministered with their sons: Of the sons of the (C)Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of [b]Eliel, the son of [c]Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of (D)Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39 And his brother (E)Asaph, who stood at his right hand, was Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 41 the son of (F)Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi.

44 Their brethren, the sons of Merari, on the left hand, were [d]Ethan the son of [e]Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, 45 the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, 46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer, 47 the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.

48 And their brethren, the Levites, were appointed to every (G)kind of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

Read full chapter

The Temple Musicians(A)

31 These are the men(B) David put in charge of the music(C) in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:

From the Kohathites:

Heman,(D) the musician,

the son of Joel,(E) the son of Samuel,

34 the son of Elkanah,(F) the son of Jeroham,

the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,

35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah,

the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,

36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel,

the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,

37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir,

the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,(G)

38 the son of Izhar,(H) the son of Kohath,

the son of Levi, the son of Israel;

39 and Heman’s associate Asaph,(I) who served at his right hand:

Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea,(J)

40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah,[a]

the son of Malkijah, 41 the son of Ethni,

the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,

42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah,

the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath,

the son of Gershon, the son of Levi;

44 and from their associates, the Merarites,(K) at his left hand:

Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi,

the son of Malluk, 45 the son of Hashabiah,

the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,

46 the son of Amzi, the son of Bani,

the son of Shemer, 47 the son of Mahli,

the son of Mushi, the son of Merari,

the son of Levi.

48 Their fellow Levites(L) were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 6:40 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, one Septuagint manuscript and Syriac Maaseiah

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may (A)show him [a]kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was (B)Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

He said, “At your service!”

Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show (C)the kindness of God?”

And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is (D)lame in his feet.”

So the king said to him, “Where is he?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of (E)Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

Now when (F)Mephibosheth[b] the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?”

And he answered, “Here is your servant!”

So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such (G)a dead dog as I?”

And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, (H)“I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 10 You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son (I)shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had (J)fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.”

“As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at [c]my table like one of the king’s sons.” 12 Mephibosheth had a young son (K)whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, (L)for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he (M)was lame in both his feet.

The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated(N)

10 It happened after this that the (O)king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. Then David said, “I will show (P)kindness to Hanun the son of (Q)Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.”

So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”

Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, (R)at their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly [d]ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

When the people of Ammon saw that they (S)had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired (T)the Syrians of (U)Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of (V)Maacah one thousand men, and from (W)Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of (X)the mighty men. Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And (Y)the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

When 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. 10 And the rest of the people he put under the command of (Z)Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon. 11 Then 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 come and help you. 12 (AA)Be of good courage, and let us (AB)be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may (AC)the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to (AD)Jerusalem.

15 When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. 16 Then [e]Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond [f]the River, and they came to Helam. And [g]Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. 17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. 18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand (AE)horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants to [h]Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and (AF)served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.

Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 9:1 covenant faithfulness
  2. 2 Samuel 9:6 Or Merib-Baal
  3. 2 Samuel 9:11 LXX David’s table
  4. 2 Samuel 10:5 humiliated
  5. 2 Samuel 10:16 Heb. Hadarezer
  6. 2 Samuel 10:16 The Euphrates
  7. 2 Samuel 10:16 Shophach, 1 Chr. 19:16
  8. 2 Samuel 10:19 Heb. Hadarezer

David and Mephibosheth

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”(A)

Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba.(B) They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan;(C) he is lame(D) in both feet.”

“Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir(E) son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.(F)

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.(G) I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.(H)

Mephibosheth(I) bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog(J) like me?”

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson(K) may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.(L)

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.(M) 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

David Defeats the Ammonites(N)

10 In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash,(O) just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out(P) and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard,(Q) cut off their garments at the buttocks,(R) and sent them away.

When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious(S) to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean(T) foot soldiers from Beth Rehob(U) and Zobah,(V) as well as the king of Maakah(W) with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob.(X)

On hearing this, David sent Joab(Y) out with the entire army of fighting men. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maakah were by themselves in the open country.

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. 10 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai(Z) his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. 11 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. 12 Be strong,(AA) and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”(AB)

13 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14 When the Ammonites(AC) realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. 16 Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River; they went to Helam, with Shobak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers.[b] He also struck down Shobak the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject(AD) to them.

So the Arameans(AE) were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my
  2. 2 Samuel 10:18 Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 19:18); Hebrew horsemen

The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated(A)

19 It(B) happened after this that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place. 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 people of Ammon to comfort him.

And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, [a]“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?”

Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments [b]in the middle, at their (C)buttocks, and sent them away. Then 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 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 [c]Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, (D)and from [d]Zobah. So 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.

Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. Then 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.

10 When 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. 11 And 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. 12 Then 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. 13 Be 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.”

14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 15 When 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.

16 Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond [e]the River, and [f]Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. 17 When 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. 18 Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed [g]seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand [h]foot soldiers of the Syrians, and killed Shophach the commander of the army. 19 And 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.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 19:3 Lit. In your eyes is David honoring your father because
  2. 1 Chronicles 19:4 in half
  3. 1 Chronicles 19:6 Heb. Aram Naharaim
  4. 1 Chronicles 19:6 Zoba, 2 Sam. 10:6
  5. 1 Chronicles 19:16 The Euphrates
  6. 1 Chronicles 19:16 Zoba, 2 Sam. 10:6, or Shobach, 2 Sam. 10:16
  7. 1 Chronicles 19:18 seven hundred, 2 Sam. 10:18
  8. 1 Chronicles 19:18 horsemen, 2 Sam. 10:18

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. 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, 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?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

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.”

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) 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.

On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 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.

Read full chapter

Notas al pie

  1. 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  2. 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia