1 Chronicles 19

Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

1Some time later, Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. His son became king after him.

2And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

2David said, "I will be kind to Hanun, the son of Nahash. His father was kind to me." So David sent men to comfort Hanun about his father. David's men came to Hanun in the land of Ammon to comfort him.

3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

3But the leaders of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending these men? His servants came to look over your land. They want to spy it out and take it."

4Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

4So Hanun grabbed David's men and shaved off their beards. He cut their long robes off at the hips. Then he sent them away.

NoteIn that time and place, a man's beard was a sign of honor. Cutting it off, and cutting his robe short, was a way of shaming him on purpose.

5Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

5Someone went and told David what had happened to his men. David sent word to meet them, because they felt very ashamed. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then come home."

6And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

6The Ammonites saw that David now hated them. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand bars of silver. They used it to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Syria-maachah, and Zobah.

NoteA talent of silver was a very heavy weight of metal, about 75 pounds. A thousand of them was a huge amount of money.

7So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots. They also hired the king of Maachah and his soldiers. These armies came and camped near the town of Medeba. The Ammonites left their own cities and came out to fight.

8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

8When David heard about it, he sent Joab out with the whole army of strong fighting men.

9And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.

9The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come to help stayed by themselves out in the open fields.

10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

10Joab saw that enemies were lined up in front of him and behind him. So he picked the best fighters in Israel. He lined them up to face the Syrians.

11And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

11He put the rest of the men under his brother Abishai. They lined up to face the Ammonites.

12And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

12Joab said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, come and help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

13Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

13Be brave. Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The LORD will do what he thinks is right."

14So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

14So Joab and his men moved up to fight the Syrians. The Syrians ran away from him.

15And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

15The Ammonites saw the Syrians running away. So they ran away too, from Joab's brother Abishai. They went back inside the city. Then Joab went home to Jerusalem.

16And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

16The Syrians saw that Israel had beaten them. So they sent for more Syrians from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the leader of Hadarezer's army, led them.

17And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

17David was told about this. He gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan River. He came to the Syrians and lined his men up for battle. So the Syrians fought against him.

18But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

18But the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed seven thousand of their chariot fighters. He also killed forty thousand soldiers who fought on foot. And he killed Shophach, the leader of their army.

19And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

19Hadarezer's men saw that Israel had beaten them. So they made peace with David and served him. After that, the Syrians would not help the Ammonites anymore.