¹⁴ and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites^(A) has sent Ishmael^(B) son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

¹⁰ Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people^(A) who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters^(B) along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.^(C)

²¹ Edom,^(A) Moab^(B) and Ammon;^(C)

David Defeats the Ammonites^(A)

10 In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. ² David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash,^(B) 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, ³ 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^(C) and overthrow it?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard,^(D) cut off their garments at the buttocks,^(E) and sent them away.

⁵ 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.”

⁶ When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious^(F) to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean^(G) foot soldiers from Beth Rehob^(H) and Zobah,^(I) as well as the king of Maakah^(J) with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob.^(K)

Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

11 Nahash^[a](A) the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead.^(B) And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty^(C) with us, and we will be subject to you.”

² But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition^(D) that I gouge^(E) out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace^(F) on all Israel.”

³ The elders^(G) of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue^(H) us, we will surrender^(I) to you.”

⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(A) it is not easily angered,^(B) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(C) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(D) but rejoices with the truth.^{(E) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(F)

¹³ This is what the Lord says:

² “Son of man, set your face against^(A) the Ammonites^(B) and prophesy against them.^{(C) 3} Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!^(D)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated^(E) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,^{(F) 4} therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East^(G) as a possession. They will set up their camps^(H) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.^{(I) 5} I will turn Rabbah^(J) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.^(K) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands^(L) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,^(M)