Chronological

David Wins over the Ammonites and Syrians

10 After this the king of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became king in his place. ² Then David said, “I will show kindness to Nahash’s son Hanun, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to comfort him in the loss of his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites, ³ the Ammonite leaders said to their lord Hanun, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Has he not sent his servants to you so they can spy out the city and destroy it?” ⁴ So Hanun took David’s servants and cut off half the hair from their faces. Then he cut off half their clothing, almost up to the belt, and sent them away. ⁵ When David heard about it, he sent men to meet them, for they were very ashamed. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces. Then return.”

⁶ Now when the sons of Ammon saw that they had become hated by David, they paid for the help of the Syrians of Beth-rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers. And they paid for the help of the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and 12,000 men of Tob. ⁷ When David heard about it, he sent Joab and all the army of the powerful men. ⁸ The sons of Ammon came to the city gate and got ready for battle. And the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

⁹ Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and behind him. So he chose all the best men of Israel and dressed them for battle against the Syrians. ¹⁰ He put the rest of the people under the rule of his brother Abishai. He dressed them for battle against the sons of Ammon. ¹¹ Joab said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. ¹² Be strong. Let us show ourselves to have strength of heart because of our people and the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His eyes.” ¹³ So Joab and the people who were with him came near to battle against the Syrians, and they ran away from him. ¹⁴ When the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had run away, they ran away from Abishai and went into the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ When the Syrians saw that they had lost the battle against Israel, they gathered together. ¹⁶ Hadadezer sent men and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam. They were led by Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer’s army. ¹⁷ When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians dressed themselves for battle against David, and fought against him. ¹⁸ But the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 700 drivers of the Syrian war-wagons, and 40,000 horsemen. He killed Shobach, the captain of their army, who died there. ¹⁹ When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had lost the battle against Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. The Syrians were afraid to help the sons of Ammon any more.

David Wins over the Ammonites and Syrians

19 After this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. And his son became king in his place. ² David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent men to bring him comfort in his sorrow for his father. David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon, to bring him comfort. ³ But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is giving honor to your father by sending men to comfort you? Have not his servants come to spy out the land and destroy it?” ⁴ So Hanun took David’s servants and cut the hair from their faces. Then he cut off the bottom half of their clothing, and sent them away. ⁵ When David was told what had happened to his servants, he sent men out to meet them because the workmen were very ashamed. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces, and then return.”

⁶ The sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves to be hated by David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent silver weighing as much as 1,000 men, to get war-wagons and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. ⁷ They paid for 32,000 war-wagons and for the king of Maacah and his army who came and set up their tents by Medeba. Then the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. ⁸ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of his strong men. ⁹ The sons of Ammon came out and were ready for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind. So he chose some of the best men of Israel and they made themselves ready to fight the Syrians. ¹¹ But he had his brother Abishai lead the rest of the men. And they made themselves ready to fight the sons of Ammon. ¹² Joab said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. ¹³ Be strong; let us show our strength of heart because of our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what is good in His eyes.” ¹⁴ So Joab and the men who were with him came near to fight against the Syrians. And the Syrians ran away from him. ¹⁵ The sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians ran away. So they ran away from Joab’s brother Abishai, and went into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ The Syrians saw that they had lost the war with Israel. So they sent men with news, and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River. Shophach the captain of Hadadezer’s army was leading them. ¹⁷ When David was told about it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. He came to them, and made his army ready to fight against them. When David made his army ready for battle, the Syrians fought against him. ¹⁸ And the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 7,000 Syrians who drove war-wagons and 40,000 Syrian foot soldiers. And he killed Shophach the captain of the army. ¹⁹ Hadadezer’s servants saw that they had lost the war against Israel. So they made peace with David and worked for him. The Syrians were not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.

Prayer to Be Kept Safe

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe. ² May He send you help from the house of God, and give you strength from Zion. ³ May He remember all your gifts of grain given on the altar in worship. And may He be pleased with your burnt gifts.

⁴ May He give you the desire of your heart, and make all your plans go well. ⁵ We will sing for joy when you win. In the name of our God we will lift up our flags. May the Lord give you all the things you ask Him for.

⁶ Now I know that the Lord saves His chosen one. He will answer him from His holy heaven, with the saving power of His right hand. ⁷ Some trust in wagons and some in horses. But we will trust in the name of the Lord, our God. ⁸ They have fallen on their knees. But we rise up and stand straight. ⁹ O Lord, save! May the King answer us when we call.