Now when the sons of Ammon saw that (A)they had become repulsive to David, the sons of Ammon sent messengers and (B)hired the Arameans of (C)Beth-rehob and the (D)Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of (E)Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob with twelve thousand men. When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the army, the warriors. And the sons of Ammon came out and lined up for battle (F)at the entrance of the [a]city, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of (G)Tob and Maacah were stationed by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw that [b]the battle was set against him at the front and at the rear, he selected warriors from all the choice men in Israel, and lined them up against the Arameans. 10 But the remainder of the people he placed [c]under the command of his brother Abishai, and he lined them up against the sons of Ammon. 11 And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. 12 (H)Be strong, and let’s show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and the cities of our God; and (I)may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” 13 So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to the battle against the Arameans, and (J)they fled from him. 14 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Abishai and entered the city. (K)Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw that they had been [d]defeated by Israel, they assembled together. 16 (L)And Hadadezer sent word and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam; and (M)Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [e]led them. 17 Now when it was reported to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans lined up against David and fought him. 18 But the Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed (N)seven hundred charioteers of the Arameans and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they had been [f]defeated by Israel, (O)they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the sons of Ammon anymore.

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Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 10:8 Lit gate
  2. 2 Samuel 10:9 Lit the faces of the battle were against
  3. 2 Samuel 10:10 Lit in the hand of
  4. 2 Samuel 10:15 Lit struck
  5. 2 Samuel 10:16 Lit was before them
  6. 2 Samuel 10:19 Lit struck

When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them,[a] they[b] sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah,[c] in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish Tob.[d]

When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.[e] The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.[f] 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army[g] and they were deployed[h] against the Ammonites. 11 Joab[i] said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,[j] you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,[k] I will come to your rescue. 12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”[l]

13 So Joab and his men[m] marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to[n] Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces.[o] 16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from[p] beyond the Euphrates River,[q] and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them.[r]

17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River,[s] and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. 18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.[t] He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there. 19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer[u] saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel.[v] The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

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Notas al pie

  1. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
  2. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Heb “the Ammonites.”
  3. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Or “Arameans of Beth Rehob and Arameans of Zobah.”
  4. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Or perhaps “the men of Tob.” The ancient versions (the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate) understand the name to be “Ish Tob.” It is possible that “Ish” is dittographic and that we should read simply “Tob,” a reading adopted by a number of recent English versions.
  5. 2 Samuel 10:7 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
  6. 2 Samuel 10:9 tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.”
  7. 2 Samuel 10:10 tn Heb “people.”
  8. 2 Samuel 10:10 tn Heb “he arranged.”
  9. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  10. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
  11. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
  12. 2 Samuel 10:12 tn Heb “and the Lord will do what is good in his eyes.”
  13. 2 Samuel 10:13 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
  14. 2 Samuel 10:14 tn Heb “and Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and entered.”
  15. 2 Samuel 10:15 tn Heb “were gathered together.”
  16. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.”
  17. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  18. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “was before them.”
  19. 2 Samuel 10:17 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  20. 2 Samuel 10:18 tn Heb “horsemen” (so KJV, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT) but the Lucianic recension of the LXX reads “foot soldiers,” as does the parallel text in 1 Chr 19:18. Cf. NAB, NIV.
  21. 2 Samuel 10:19 tn Heb “the servants of Hadadezer.”
  22. 2 Samuel 10:19 tn Heb “and they served them.”