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Psalm 60
New English Translation

Psalm 60[a]

For the music director, according to the shushan-eduth style;[b] a prayer[c] of David written to instruct others.[d] It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down[e] 12,000 Edomites[f] in the Valley of Salt.[g]

60 O God, you have rejected us.[h]
You suddenly turned on us in your anger.[i]
Please restore us![j]
2 You made the earth quake; you split it open.[k]
Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall.[l]
3 You have made your people experience hard times;[m]
you have made us drink intoxicating wine.[n]
4 You have given your loyal followers[o] a rallying flag,
so that they might seek safety from the bow.[p] (Selah)
5 Deliver by your power[q] and answer me,[r]
so that the ones you love may be safe.[s]
6 God has spoken in his sanctuary:[t]
“I will triumph. I will parcel out Shechem;
the Valley of Sukkoth I will measure off.[u]
7 Gilead belongs to me,
as does Manasseh.[v]
Ephraim is my helmet,[w]
Judah my royal scepter.[x]
8 Moab is my washbasin.[y]
I will make Edom serve me.[z]
I will shout in triumph over Philistia.”[aa]
9 Who will lead me into the fortified city?
Who will bring me to Edom?[ab]
10 Have you not rejected us, O God?
O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.
11 Give us help against the enemy,
for any help men might offer is futile.[ac]
12 By God’s power we will conquer;[ad]
he will trample down[ae] our enemies.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 sn Psalm 60. The psalmist grieves over Israel’s humiliation, but in response to God’s assuring word, he asks for divine help in battle and expresses his confidence in victory.
  2. Psalm 60:1 tn The Hebrew expression means “lily of the testimony.” It may refer to a particular music style or to a tune title.
  3. Psalm 60:1 tn The precise meaning of the Hebrew word מִכְתָּם (miktam), which also appears in the heading to Pss 16, 56-59, is uncertain. HALOT 582-83 s.v. defines it as “inscription.”
  4. Psalm 60:1 tn Heb “to teach.”
  5. Psalm 60:1 tn In Josh 8:21 and Judg 20:48 the two verbs “turn back” and “strike down” are also juxtaposed. There they refer to a military counter-attack.
  6. Psalm 60:1 tn Heb “12,000 of Edom.” Perhaps one should read אֲרַם (’aram, “Aram”) here rather than אֱדוֹם (’edom, “Edom”).
  7. Psalm 60:1 sn The heading apparently refers to the military campaign recorded in 2 Sam 10 and 1 Chr 19.
  8. Psalm 60:1 sn You have rejected us. See Pss 43:2; 44:9, 23.
  9. Psalm 60:1 tn Heb “you broke out upon us, you were angry.”
  10. Psalm 60:1 tn The imperfect verbal form here expresses the psalmist’s wish or prayer.
  11. Psalm 60:2 tn The verb פָּצַם (patsam, “split open”) occurs only here in the OT. An Arabic cognate means “crack,” and an Aramaic cognate is used in Tg. Jer 22:14 with the meaning “break open, frame.” See BDB 822 s.v. and Jastrow 1205 s.v. פְּצַם.sn You made the earth quake; you split it open. The psalmist uses the imagery of an earthquake to describe the nation’s defeat.
  12. Psalm 60:2 sn It is ready to fall. The earth is compared to a wall that has been broken by the force of the earthquake (note the preceding line) and is ready to collapse.
  13. Psalm 60:3 tn Heb “you have caused your people to see [what is] hard.”
  14. Psalm 60:3 tn Heb “wine of staggering,” that is, intoxicating wine that makes one stagger in drunkenness. Intoxicating wine is here an image of divine judgment that makes its victims stagger like drunkards. See Isa 51:17-23.
  15. Psalm 60:4 tn Heb “those who fear you.”
  16. Psalm 60:4 tn There is a ray of hope in that God has allowed his loyal followers to rally under a battle flag. The translation assumes the verb is from the root נוּס (nus, “flee”) used here in the Hitpolel in the sense of “find safety for oneself” (HALOT 681 s.v. נוס) or “take flight for oneself” (BDB 630-31 s.v. נוּס). Another option is to take the verb as a denominative from נֵס (nes, “flag”) and translate “that it may be displayed” (BDB 651 s.v. II נסס) or “that they may assemble under the banner” (HALOT 704 s.v. II נסס). Here קֹשֶׁט (qoshet) is taken as an Aramaized form of קֶשֶׁת (qeshet, “bow”; BDB 905-6 s.v. קֶשֶׁת), though some understand the homonymic קֹשְׁטְ (qoshet, “truth”) here (see Prov 22:21; cf. NASB). If one follows the latter interpretation, the line may be translated, “so that they might assemble under the banner for the sake of truth.”
  17. Psalm 60:5 tn Heb “right hand.”
  18. Psalm 60:5 tn The Qere (marginal reading) has “me,” while the Kethib (consonantal text) has “us.”
  19. Psalm 60:5 tn Or “may be rescued.” The lines are actually reversed in the Hebrew text, “So that the ones you love may be rescued, deliver by your power and answer me.”
  20. Psalm 60:6 tn Heb “in his holy place.”
  21. Psalm 60:6 sn Shechem stands for the territory west of the Jordan, the Valley of Sukkoth for the region east of the Jordan.
  22. Psalm 60:7 sn Gilead was located east of the Jordan. Half of the tribe of Manasseh lived east of the Jordan in the region of Bashan.
  23. Psalm 60:7 tn Heb “the protection of my head.”sn Ephraim, named after one of Joseph’s sons, was one of two major tribes located west of the Jordan. By comparing Ephraim to a helmet, the Lord suggests that the Ephraimites played a primary role in the defense of his land.
  24. Psalm 60:7 sn Judah, like Ephraim, was the other major tribe west of the Jordan. The Davidic king, symbolized here by the royal scepter, came from this tribe.
  25. Psalm 60:8 sn The metaphor of the washbasin, used to rinse one’s hands and feet, suggests that Moab, in contrast to Israel’s elevated position (vv. 6-7), would be reduced to the status of a servant.
  26. Psalm 60:8 tn Heb “over Edom I will throw my sandal.” The point of the metaphor is not entirely clear. Some interpret this as idiomatic for “taking possession of,” i.e., “I will take possession of Edom.” Others translate עַל (ʿal) as “to” and understand this as referring to a master throwing his dirty sandal to a servant so that the latter might dust it off.
  27. Psalm 60:8 tc Heb “over me, O Philistia, shout in triumph.” The translation follows the text of Ps 108:9. When the initial עֲלֵיוֹ (ʿaleyo, “over”) was misread as עָלַי (ʿalay, “over me”), the first person verb form was probably altered to an imperative to provide better sense to the line.
  28. Psalm 60:9 sn In v. 9 the psalmist speaks again and acknowledges his need for help in battle. He hopes God will volunteer, based on the affirmation of sovereignty over Edom in v. 8, but he is also aware that God has seemingly rejected the nation (v. 10, see also v. 1).
  29. Psalm 60:11 tn Heb “and futile [is] the deliverance of man.”
  30. Psalm 60:12 tn Heb “in God we will accomplish strength.” The statement refers here to military success (see Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:48; Pss 108:13; 118:15-16).
  31. Psalm 60:12 sn Trample down. On this expression see Ps 44:5.
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Psalm 60
International Standard Version

To the Director: A special Davidic psalm to the tune of[a] “Lily of The Covenant,” for teaching about his battle with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, when Joab returned and attacked 12,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley.[b]

A Prayer for God’s Help against Adversaries

60 God, you have cast us off;
    you have breached our defenses
and you have become enraged.
    Return to us!
2 You made the earth quake;
    you broke it open.
Repair its fractures,
    because it has shifted.
3 You made your people go through hard times;
    you had us drink wine that makes us stagger.

4 But you have given a banner to those who fear you,
    so they may display it in honor of truth.[c]
Interlude
5 So your loved ones may be delivered,
    save us by your power[d]
        and answer us quickly!

6 Then God spoke in his holiness,

“I will rejoice—
    I will divide Shechem;
        I will portion out the Succoth Valley.
7 Gilead belongs to me,
    and Manasseh is mine.
Ephraim is my helmet,
    and Judah my scepter.
8 Moab is my wash basin;
    over Edom I will throw my shoes;
        over Philistia I will celebrate my triumph.”

9 Who will lead me to the fortified city?
    Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Aren’t you the one, God, who has cast us off?
    Didn’t you refuse, God, to accompany our armies?

11 Help us in our distress,
    for human help is worthless.
12 Through God we will fight[e] valiantly;
    and it is he who will crush our enemies.[f]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 60:1 Lit. David according to
  2. Psalm 60:1 I.e. Dead Sea region
  3. Psalm 60:4 Or display it because of the archer
  4. Psalm 60:5 Lit. right hand
  5. Psalm 60:12 Lit. will do
  6. Psalm 60:12 vv.5-12 is the same as Psalm 108:6-13.
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Psalm 59
Psalm 61
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2 Samuel 8:1-14
New English Translation

David Subjugates Nearby Nations

8 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah[a] from the Philistines.[b] 2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third.[c] The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.[d] 3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish[e] his authority[f] over the Euphrates[g] River. 4 David seized from him 1,700 charioteers[h] and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but 100 of the chariot horses.[i] 5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected[j] David wherever he campaigned.[k] 7 David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem.[l] 8 From Tebah[m] and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities, King David took a great deal of bronze.

9 When King Toi[n] of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he[o] sent his son Joram[p] to King David to extend his best wishes[q] and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer.[r] He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze.[s] 11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord,[t] along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from[u] all the nations that he had subdued, 12 including[v] Edom,[w] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. This also included some of the plunder taken from[x] King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah.

13 David became famous[y] when he returned from defeating the Edomites[z] in the Valley of Salt; he defeated[aa] 18,000 in all. 14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom,[ab] and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:1 tn Heb “the bridle of one cubit.” Many English versions treat this as a place name because the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:1 reads “Gath” (which is used by NLT here). It is possible that “the bridle of one cubit” is to be understood as “the token of surrender,” referring to the Philistine’s defeat rather than a specific place (cf. TEV, CEV).
  2. 2 Samuel 8:1 tn Heb “from the hand [i.e., control] of the Philistines.”
  3. 2 Samuel 8:2 tn Heb “and he measured [with] two [lengths] of rope to put to death and [with] the fullness of the rope to keep alive.”
  4. 2 Samuel 8:2 tn Heb “and the Moabites were servants of David, carriers of tribute.”
  5. 2 Samuel 8:3 tc The LXX has ἐπιστῆσαι (epistēsai, “cause to stand”). See the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:3.
  6. 2 Samuel 8:3 tn Heb “hand.”
  7. 2 Samuel 8:3 tn The MT does not have the name “Euphrates” in the text. It is supplied in the margin (Qere) as one of ten places where the Masoretes believed that something was “to be read although it was not written” in the text as they had received it. The ancient versions (LXX, Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate) include the word. See also the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:3.
  8. 2 Samuel 8:4 tc The LXX has “1,000 chariots and 7,000 charioteers,” a reading adopted in the text of the NIV. See the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:4.
  9. 2 Samuel 8:4 tn Heb “and David cut the hamstrings of all the chariot horses, and he left from them 100 chariot horses.”
  10. 2 Samuel 8:6 tn Or “delivered.”
  11. 2 Samuel 8:6 tn Or “wherever he went.”
  12. 2 Samuel 8:7 tc The LXX includes seventeen words (in Greek) at the end of v. 7 that are not found in the MT. The LXX addition is as follows: “And Sousakim king of Egypt took them when he came up to Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon.” This Greek reading now finds Hebrew support in 4QSama. For a reconstruction of this poorly preserved Qumran text see E. C. Ulrich, Jr., The Qumran Text of Samuel and Josephus (HSM), 45-48.
  13. 2 Samuel 8:8 tn Heb “Betah” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV), but the name should probably be corrected to “Tebah.” See the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:8.
  14. 2 Samuel 8:9 tn The name is spelled “Tou” in the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:9. NIV adopts the spelling “Tou” here.
  15. 2 Samuel 8:10 tn Heb “Toi.” The proper name has been replaced by the pronoun in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  16. 2 Samuel 8:10 tn The name appears as “Hadoram” in the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:10.
  17. 2 Samuel 8:10 tn Heb “to ask concerning him for peace.”
  18. 2 Samuel 8:10 tn Heb “and to bless him because he fought with Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was a man of battles with Toi.”
  19. 2 Samuel 8:10 tn Heb “and in his hand were items of silver and items of gold and items of bronze.”
  20. 2 Samuel 8:11 tn Heb “also them King David made holy to the Lord.”
  21. 2 Samuel 8:11 tn Heb “with the silver and the gold that he had dedicated from.”
  22. 2 Samuel 8:12 tn Heb “from.”
  23. 2 Samuel 8:12 tc Heb “Aram.” A few Hebrew mss along with the LXX and Syriac read “Edom” (cf. 2 Sam 8:14 and 1 Chr 18:11). Aram and Edom are spelled similarly, the difference being a ד (dalet) vs. a ר (resh). Besides the textual witnesses, the geography in v. 13, the Valley of Salt, fits Edom and not Aram.
  24. 2 Samuel 8:12 tn Heb “and from the plunder of.”
  25. 2 Samuel 8:13 tn Heb “made a name.”
  26. 2 Samuel 8:13 tc See the note on “Aram” in v. 12.
  27. 2 Samuel 8:13 tn The words “he defeated” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  28. 2 Samuel 8:14 tc The MT is repetitious here: “He placed in Edom garrisons; in all Edom he placed garrisons.” The Vulgate lacks “in all Edom”; most of the Greek tradition (with the exception of the Lucianic recension and the recension of Origen) and the Syriac Peshitta lack “he placed garrisons.” The MT reading appears here to be the result of a conflation of variant readings.
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2 Samuel 8:1-14
International Standard Version

David’s Military Victories(A)

8 Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2 David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.

3 David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony[a] over the Euphrates[b] River. 4 David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700[c] horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply[d] 100 chariots. 5 When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,[e] and they paid tribute to him. 7 David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8 He[f] also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.

9 When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11 and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12 including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.

13 David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14 He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit. hand
  2. 2 Samuel 8:3 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  3. 2 Samuel 8:4 So MT; LXX reads 7,000; cf. 1Chr 18:4
  4. 2 Samuel 8:4 The Heb. lacks enough to supply
  5. 2 Samuel 8:6 Lit. David
  6. 2 Samuel 8:8 Lit. David
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2 Samuel 7
2 Samuel 9
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2 Samuel 10
New English Translation

David and the Ammonites

10 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him.[a] 2 David said, “I will express my loyalty[b] to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal[c] to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death.[d] When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites, 3 the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy?[e] No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!”[f]

4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed,[g] and then sent them away. 5 Messengers[h] told David what had happened,[i] so he sent them to the men who were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”

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

7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.[n] 8 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.

9 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.[o] 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army[p] and they were deployed[q] against the Ammonites. 11 Joab[r] said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,[s] you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,[t] 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!”[u]

13 So Joab and his men[v] 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[w] Jerusalem.

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

17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River,[ab] 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.[ac] 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[ad] saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel.[ae] The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 10:1 tn Heb “reigned in his place.”
  2. 2 Samuel 10:2 tn Heb “do loyalty.”
  3. 2 Samuel 10:2 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
  4. 2 Samuel 10:2 tn Heb “and David sent to console him by the hand of his servants concerning his father.”
  5. 2 Samuel 10:3 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
  6. 2 Samuel 10:3 tn Heb “Is it not to explore the city and to spy on it and to overthrow it [that] David has sent his servants to you?”
  7. 2 Samuel 10:4 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto their buttocks.”
  8. 2 Samuel 10:5 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  9. 2 Samuel 10:5 tn The words “what had happened” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  10. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
  11. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Heb “the Ammonites.”
  12. 2 Samuel 10:6 tn Or “Arameans of Beth Rehob and Arameans of Zobah.”
  13. 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.
  14. 2 Samuel 10:7 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
  15. 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.”
  16. 2 Samuel 10:10 tn Heb “people.”
  17. 2 Samuel 10:10 tn Heb “he arranged.”
  18. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  19. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
  20. 2 Samuel 10:11 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
  21. 2 Samuel 10:12 tn Heb “and the Lord will do what is good in his eyes.”
  22. 2 Samuel 10:13 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
  23. 2 Samuel 10:14 tn Heb “and Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and entered.”
  24. 2 Samuel 10:15 tn Heb “were gathered together.”
  25. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.”
  26. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  27. 2 Samuel 10:16 tn Heb “was before them.”
  28. 2 Samuel 10:17 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  29. 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.
  30. 2 Samuel 10:19 tn Heb “the servants of Hadadezer.”
  31. 2 Samuel 10:19 tn Heb “and they served them.”
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2 Samuel 10
International Standard Version

Subjugation of Ammon and Aram(A)

10 Sometime later, the Ammonite king died and his son Hanun succeeded him as king, 2 so David told himself, “I will be loyal to Nahash’s son Hanun, since in his loyalty his father showed gracious love to me.” So David sent a delegation[a] to Hanun to console him about his loss of[b] his father.

But when David’s delegation arrived in Ammonite territory, 3 the Ammonite officials asked their lord Hanun, “Do you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived intending to search, scout the land, and then overthrow it, hasn’t it?” 4 So Hanun arrested David’s delegation, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.[c]

5 When David had been informed about the incident,[d] he sent word[e] to them, since the men had been deeply humiliated. The king told them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with[f] David, they hired 20,000 Aramean mercenaries from Beth-rehob and Zobah, along with the king of Maacah and 1,000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob. 7 In response, David sent out Joab and his entire army of elite soldiers. 8 The Ammonites went out in battle formation at the entrance to the city[g] gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob, along with the army[h] from Tob and Maacah, were out by themselves in the open fields.

9 When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed the best troops in Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans, 10 putting the rest of his forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them to oppose the Ammonites. 11 He said, “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you are to help me. If the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will come help you. 12 Be strong, be courageous on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what he thinks is best.”

13 So Joab and the soldiers who were with him attacked the Arameans in battle formation, and the Arameans retreated in front of him. 14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Abishai back to the city. Then Joab broke off his attack against the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem. 15 After the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. 16 Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who lived beyond the Euphrates River,[i] and they set out for Helam, with Shobach[j] leading them as commander of Hadadezer’s army.

17 When David learned this, he mustered all of Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and approached Helam. The Arameans assembled in battle array to attack David, and started their assault. 18 But the Arameans retreated from Israel, and David’s forces[k] killed 700 of their charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and mortally wounded Shobach, the commander of their army. As a result, Shobach[l] died there. 19 When all the kings who were allied with[m] Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sought terms of peace with the Israelis and became subservient to them. Furthermore, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 10:2 Lit. sent by the hand of his servants
  2. 2 Samuel 10:2 The Heb. lacks his loss of
  3. 2 Samuel 10:4 The Heb. lacks in disgrace
  4. 2 Samuel 10:5 The Heb. lacks about the incident
  5. 2 Samuel 10:5 The Heb. lacks word
  6. 2 Samuel 10:6 Lit. had become odious to
  7. 2 Samuel 10:8 The Heb. lacks city
  8. 2 Samuel 10:8 Lit. men
  9. 2 Samuel 10:16 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  10. 2 Samuel 10:16 Cf. 1Chr 19:16, which reads Shophach
  11. 2 Samuel 10:18 Lit. David
  12. 2 Samuel 10:18 Lit. he
  13. 2 Samuel 10:19 Lit. were servants of
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1 Chronicles 19
New English Translation

David’s Campaign against the Ammonites

19 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. 2 David said, “I will express my loyalty[a] to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal[b] to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death.[c] When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy,[d] 3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy?[e] No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!”[f] 4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off.[g] He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed[h] and then sent them away. 5 People[i] came and told David what had happened to the men, so he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them,[j] Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents[k] of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.[l] 7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.

8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.[m] 9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 10 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.[n] 11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab[o] said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,[p] you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,[q] I will come to your rescue. 13 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!”[r] 14 So Joab and his men[s] marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’s[t] brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.

16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River,[u] led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army.[v] 17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River,[w] and marched against them.[x] David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him.[y] 18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000[z] Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach[aa] the commanding general. 19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “do loyalty.”
  2. 1 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “did loyalty.”
  3. 1 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “to console him concerning his father.”
  4. 1 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.”
  5. 1 Chronicles 19:3 tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”
  6. 1 Chronicles 19:3 tc Heb “Is it not to explore and to overturn and to spy out the land (that) his servants have come to you?” The Hebrew term לַהֲפֹךְ (lahafokh, “to overturn”) seems misplaced in the sequence. Some emend the form to לַחְפֹּר (lakhpor, “to spy out”). The sequence of three infinitives may be a conflation of alternative readings.
  7. 1 Chronicles 19:4 tn Heb “shaved them.” See v. 5.
  8. 1 Chronicles 19:4 tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto the buttocks.”
  9. 1 Chronicles 19:5 tn Heb “they.” The logical referent, though not specified in the Hebrew text, has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  10. 1 Chronicles 19:6 tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.”
  11. 1 Chronicles 19:6 tn The Hebrew word כִּכַּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or, by extension, to a standard unit of weight. According to the older (Babylonian) standard the “talent” weighed 130 lbs. (58.9 kg), but later this was lowered to 108.3 lbs. (49.1 kg). More recent research suggests the “light” standard talent was 67.3 lbs. (30.6 kg). Using this as the standard for calculation, the Ammonites hired chariots and charioteers for about 33.7 tons (30,600 kg) of silver.
  12. 1 Chronicles 19:6 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:6 has “Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah.”
  13. 1 Chronicles 19:8 tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
  14. 1 Chronicles 19:10 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:10 has “the Ammonites” in place of “the Arameans” here.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.”
  15. 1 Chronicles 19:12 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  16. 1 Chronicles 19:12 tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.”
  17. 1 Chronicles 19:12 tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.”
  18. 1 Chronicles 19:13 tn Heb “and the Lord, what is good in his eyes, he will do.”
  19. 1 Chronicles 19:14 tn Heb “and the army which was with him.”
  20. 1 Chronicles 19:15 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  21. 1 Chronicles 19:16 tn Heb “the River,” referring to the Euphrates. This has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  22. 1 Chronicles 19:16 tn Heb “and Aram saw that they were struck down before Israel and they sent messengers and brought out Aram which is beyond the River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [was] before them.”
  23. 1 Chronicles 19:17 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  24. 1 Chronicles 19:17 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:17 “he came to Helam.”tn Heb “and he came to them and was deployed against them.”
  25. 1 Chronicles 19:17 tn Heb “and David was deployed to meet Aram [for] battle and they fought with him.”
  26. 1 Chronicles 19:18 tc The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has “seven hundred.”
  27. 1 Chronicles 19:18 tn The parallel text of 2 Sam 10:18 has the variant spelling “Shobach.”
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1 Chronicles 19
International Standard Version

Subjugation of Ammon and Aram(A)

19 Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died and his son succeeded him, 2 so David told himself, “I will be loyal to Nahash’s son Hanun, since his father showed loyal, gracious love to me.” So David sent a delegation[a] to console him about his loss of his[b] father.

But when David’s delegation arrived to visit[c] Hanun in Ammonite territory to console him, 3 the Ammonite officials asked Hanun, “Do you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived to search, overthrow, and scout the land, hasn’t it?” 4 So Hanun arrested David’s delegation, shaved off their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.[d]

5 After they had departed, David was informed about the men, so he sent word[e] to them, since they had been deeply humiliated. He told them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that they had created quite a stink with David, Hanun and the Ammonites spent 1,000 silver talents[f] to hire chariots and mercenaries from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who arrived and encamped at Medeba. The Ammonites also were mustered and came out to battle from their home cities. 8 In response, David sent out Joab and his entire army of elite soldiers. 9 The Ammonites went out in battle formation in front of the entrance to the city while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open fields.

10 When Joab observed that the battle lines were set up to oppose him both in front and behind, he appointed some special forces from Israel and arrayed them to oppose the Arameans, 11 putting the rest of his forces under command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them to oppose the Ammonites. 12 He told Abishai,[g] “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you are to help me. If the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be strong, be courageous on behalf of our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what he thinks is best.” 14 So Joab and the soldiers who were with him attacked the Arameans in battle formation, and the Arameans retreated in front of him. 15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans retreating, they also retreated from Joab’s brother Abishai back to the city and Joab left for Jerusalem. 16 After the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for the Arameans who lived beyond the Euphrates River.[h] Shophach[i] was leading them as commander of Hadadezer’s army.

17 When David learned this, he mustered all of Israel, crossed the Jordan, approached the Arameans, and drew up his forces against them. After David had assembled in battle array against the Arameans, the Arameans[j] attacked him. 18 The Arameans retreated from Israel, and David’s forces[k] killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers, 40,000 soldiers, and Shophach, the commander of their army. 19 When Hadadezer’s officials saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sought terms of peace with David and became subservient to him. After this, the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 19:2 Lit. servants; and so throughout the section
  2. 1 Chronicles 19:2 The Heb. lacks his loss of
  3. 1 Chronicles 19:2 The Heb. lacks visit
  4. 1 Chronicles 19:4 The Heb. lacks in disgrace
  5. 1 Chronicles 19:5 The Heb. lacks word
  6. 1 Chronicles 19:6 I.e., about 75,000 pounds; a talent weighed about 75 pounds
  7. 1 Chronicles 19:12 The Heb. lacks to Abishai
  8. 1 Chronicles 19:16 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  9. 1 Chronicles 19:16 Cf. 2Sam 10:16, which reads Shobach
  10. 1 Chronicles 19:17 Lit. Arameans, they
  11. 1 Chronicles 19:18 Lit. David
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