2 Samuel 10
Legacy Standard Bible
The Ammonites Dishonor David’s Men
10 (A)Now it happened afterwards, that (B)the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son became king in his place. 2 So David said, “I will show lovingkindness to Hanun the son of (C)Nahash, just as his father showed lovingkindness to me.” So David sent to comfort him concerning his father by the hand of his servants. And David’s servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon. 3 But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? (D)Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and (E)shaved off half of their beards, and (F)cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5 Then they told it to David. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, “[a]Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”
6 Then the sons of Ammon saw that (G)they had become odious to David. So the sons of Ammon sent and (H)hired the Arameans of (I)Beth-rehob and the (J)Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of (K)Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7 Then David heard of it and sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 8 And the sons of Ammon came out and arranged themselves for battle (L)at the entrance of the gate of the city. But the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of (M)Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
David Defeats Ammon and Aram
9 Then Joab saw that [b]the battle was set against him from the front and from the rear. So he chose from all the choice men of Israel, and they arranged themselves to meet the Arameans. 10 But the remainder of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother; and he arranged them to meet the sons of Ammon. 11 And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall save me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to save you. 12 (N)Be strong, and let us show strength for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and (O)may Yahweh do what is good in His sight.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Arameans, and (P)they fled before him. 14 Now the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled. So they also fled before Abishai and came into the city. (Q)Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15 Then the Arameans saw that they had been [c]defeated by Israel. So they gathered themselves together. 16 (R)And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the [d]River, and they came to Helam; and (S)Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [e]led them. 17 And it was told to David, so he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans arranged themselves to meet David and fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans (T)700 charioteers and 40,000 horsemen and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 Then all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were [f]defeated by Israel. So (U)they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Arameans were afraid to save the sons of Ammon anymore.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 10:5 Lit Return to
- 2 Samuel 10:9 Lit the faces of the battle were against
- 2 Samuel 10:15 Lit smitten before
- 2 Samuel 10:16 The Euphrates River
- 2 Samuel 10:16 Lit before
- 2 Samuel 10:19 Lit smitten before
2 Samuel 10
English Standard Version
David Defeats Ammon and Syria
10 (A)After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 And David said, “I will deal loyally[a] with Hanun the son of (B)Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3 But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, (C)at their hips, and sent them away. 5 When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”
6 When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of (D)Beth-rehob, and (E)the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of (F)Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of (G)Tob, 12,000 men. 7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of (H)the mighty men. 8 And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and (I)the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and (J)the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians. 10 The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11 And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12 (K)Be of good courage, and (L)let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and (M)may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond (N)the Euphrates.[b] They came to Helam, with (O)Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded (P)Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel (Q)and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 10:2 Or kindly; twice in this verse
- 2 Samuel 10:16 Hebrew the River
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
