Chronological
10 4 The messengers of David are villainously entreated of the king of Ammon. 7 Joab is sent against the Ammonites.
1 After this, the (A)King of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father [a]showed kindness unto me. And David sent his servants to comfort him for his father. So David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, [b]Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters to thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, [c]to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the half of their beard, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 ¶ When it was told unto David, he sent to meet them (for the men were exceedingly ashamed) and the king said, Tarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown, then return.
6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they [d]stank in the sight of David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the [e]Aramites of the house of Rehob, and the Aramites of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-Tob twelve thousand men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the strong men.
8 And the children of Ammon came out and put their army in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Aramites of [f]Zoba, and of Rehob, and of Ish-Tob, and of Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Aramites.
10 And the rest of the people, he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 And he said, If the Aramites be stronger than I, thou shalt help me, and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, I will come and succor thee.
12 Be strong and let us be valiant for [g]our people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his eyes.
13 Then Joab, and the people that was with him, joined in battle with the Aramites, who fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Aramites fled, they fled also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 ¶ And when the Aramites saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered them together.
16 And [h]Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Aramites that were beyond the [i]River: and they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.
17 When it was showed David, then he gathered [j]all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam: and the Aramites set themselves in array against David, and fought with him:
18 And the Aramites fled before Israel: and David destroyed [k]seven hundred chariots of the Aramites, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of his host, who died there.
19 And when all the kings, that were servants to Hadadezer, saw that they fell before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. and the Aramites feared to help the children of Ammon anymore.
19 4 Hanun King of the children of Ammon doeth great injuries to the servants of David. 6 He prepareth an army against David, 15 and is overcome.
1 After this also (A)Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
2 And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his [a]father showed kindness unto me. And David sent messengers to comfort him for his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Are not his servants come to thee to [b]search, to seek and to spy out the land?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and [c]shaved them, and cut off their [d]garments by the half unto the buttocks, and sent them away.
5 And there went certain and told David concerning the men: and he sent to meet them (for the men were exceedingly ashamed) and the King said, Tarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown: then return.
6 ¶ When the children of Ammon saw that they [e]stank in the sight of David, then sent Hanun and the children of Ammon a thousand talents of silver, to hire them chariots and horsemen out (B)of Aram Naharaim, and out of Aram Maacah, and out of [f]Zobah.
7 And they hired them two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, which came and pitched before [g]Medeba: and the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to the battle.
8 ¶ And when David heard it, he sent Joab and all the host of the valiant men.
9 And the children of Ammon came out, and set their battle in array at the gate of the city. And the kings that were come, were by themselves in the field.
10 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, then he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and set himself in array to meet the Aramites.
11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12 And he said, If Aram be too strong for me, then thou shalt succor me: and if the children of Ammon prevail against thee, then I will succor thee.
13 Be strong, and let us show ourselves valiant for our [h]people, and for the cities of our God, and let the Lord do that which is good in his own sight.
14 So Joab and the people that was with him, came near before the Aramites unto the battle, and they fled before him.
15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Aramites fled, they fled also before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city: so Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 ¶ And when the Aramites saw that they were discomfited before Israel, they sent messengers, and caused the Aramites to come forth that were beyond the [i]river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.
17 And when it was showed David, he gathered all Israel, and went over Jordan, and came unto them, and put himself in array against them: And when David had put himself in battle array to meet the Aramites, they fought with him.
18 But the Aramites fled before Israel, and David destroyed of the Aramites [j]seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they fell before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him. And the Aramites would no more succor the children of Ammon.
20 A prayer of the people unto God, that it would please him to hear their king and receive his sacrifice, which he offered before he went to battle against the Ammonites.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 The [a]Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: the [b]Name of the God of Jacob defend thee:
2 Send thee help from the Sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.
3 Let him remember all thine offerings, and [c]turn thy burnt offerings into ashes. Selah.
4 And grant thee according to thine heart, and fulfill all thy purpose:
5 That we may rejoice in thy [d]salvation, and set up the banner in the Name of our God, when the Lord shall perform all thy petitions.
6 Now [e]know I that the Lord will help his anointed, and will hear him from his [f]Sanctuary, by the mighty help of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.
8 [g]They are brought down and fallen, but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save Lord: [h]Let the King hear us in the day that we call.
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