Chronological

David Defeats the Ammonites and Arameans^(A)

10 After this, the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. ² David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a message by way of his servants to comfort him concerning his father, and the servants of David went to the land of the Ammonites.

³ But the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, their lord, “Has David honored your father in your eyes by sending comforters to you? Was it not in an effort to search out the city, to scout it in order to overthrow it, that he sent his servants to you?” ⁴ So Hanun seized the servants of David, shaved half of the beard of each, cut their robes in half so that they were exposed, and sent them away.

⁵ When they reported what had happened to David, he sent messengers to meet them, because the men were severely ashamed. The king instructed them, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have regrown, then return.”

⁶ When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth Rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and from the king of Maakah, one thousand men, and from Tob, twelve thousand men.

⁷ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors. ⁸ The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of the gate. But the Arameans of Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maakah were by themselves in the open field.

⁹ When Joab saw that the battlefronts were both before and behind him, he selected some from the best men in Israel and lined them up opposite Aram. ¹⁰ The remainder of the people he placed under the charge of Abishai his brother, and lined them up opposite the Ammonites. ¹¹ Then he said, “If Aram starts to prevail over me, you shall help me, but if the Ammonites begin to prevail over you, then I will come to help you. ¹² Be strong and let us fight with resolve for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord do what seems good to Him.”

¹³ Joab advanced the people that were with him to fight against Aram, and they retreated from before him. ¹⁴ When the Ammonites realized that Aram had fled, they retreated from before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab turned away from fighting against the Ammonites, and he came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ When Aram saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they assembled together. ¹⁶ Hadadezer sent for and summoned the Arameans who were beyond the River,^[a] and they came to Helam. Shobak the commander of the army of Hadadezer led them.

¹⁷ When David was informed of this, he assembled all of Israel. They crossed over the Jordan and came to Helam. Aram was drawn up in formation opposite David, and they fought against him. ¹⁸ Aram retreated before Israel. David killed seven hundred charioteers, forty thousand horsemen from Aram, and wounded Shobak the commander of the army so that he died there. ¹⁹ When all of the kings who were subject to Hadadezer realized that they were being defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them.

From then on, Aram was fearful of further helping the Ammonites.

David Defeats the Ammonites^(A)

19 Now it happened after this that Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place. ² Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to comfort him.

³ But the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is honoring your father because he sent consolers? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” ⁴ So Hanun took the servants of David, shaved them, cut their garments in half as far as the hip, and sent them away.

⁵ Then some came and told David about the men, so he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Remain in Jericho until your beards grow full, and then return.”

⁶ When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent one thousand talents^[a] of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah, and Zobah. ⁷ So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maakah and his people. They camped before Medeba as the Ammonites gathered from their cities to go out to war.

⁸ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. ⁹ So the Ammonites went out and formed ranks for battle at the entrance to the city while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

¹⁰ When Joab saw the battle line was drawn in front of him and behind him, he chose some of the best men in Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. ¹¹ The rest of the people he placed in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they took up positions to engage the Ammonites. ¹² Then he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you will come help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come help you. ¹³ Take courage, and let us prove worthy of our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord do what seems right to Him.”

¹⁴ So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him. ¹⁵ When the Ammonites saw the Arameans fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother and entered the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and summoned the Arameans who were beyond the River,^[b] and Shophak, the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them.

¹⁷ When David was told about it, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came against them. He divided his ranks and prepared to engage the Arameans in battle, so they fought against him. ¹⁸ But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand chariot drivers and forty thousand infantry men of the Arameans, and killed Shophak, the commander of the army.

¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they negotiated peace with David and served him.

So the Arameans were not willing to aid the Ammonites in battle again.

Psalm 20

For the Music Director. A Psalm of David.