aNow it came about after
this
, that Nahash
the king
of the sons
of Ammon
died
, and his son
became
king
in his place
.
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 console
him concerning
his father
. And David's
servants
came
into the land
of the sons
of Ammon
to Hanun
to console
him.
But the princes of the sons
of Ammon
said
to Hanun
, " 1Do you think
that David
is honoring
your father
, in that he has sent
comforters
to you? Have not his servants
come
to you to search
and to overthrow
and to spy
out the land
?"
So Hanun took
David's
servants
and shaved
them and cut
off
their garments
in the middle
as far
as their hips
, and sent
them away
.
Then certain persons went and told
David
about
the men
. And he sent
to meet
them, for the men
were greatly
humiliated
. And the king
said
, " 1Stay
at Jericho
until
your beards
grow
, and then return
."
When the sons of Ammon
saw
that they had made
themselves odious
to David
, Hanun
and the sons
of Ammon
sent
1,000
talents
of silver
to hire
for themselves chariots
and horsemen
from Mesopotamia
, from Aram-maacah
and afrom Zobah
.
So they hired for themselves 32,000
chariots
, and the king
of Maacah
and his people
, who came
and camped
before
aMedeba
. And the sons
of Ammon
gathered
together from their cities
and came
to battle
.
When David heard
of it, he sent
Joab
and all
the army
, the mighty
men
.
The sons of Ammon
came
out and drew
up in battle
array at the entrance
of the city
, and the kings
who
had come
were by themselves
in the field
.
Now when Joab saw
that the 1battle
was set against
him in front
and in the rear
, he selected
from all
the choice
men of Israel
and they arrayed
themselves against
the Arameans
.
But the remainder of the people
he placed
in the hand
of 1Abshai
his brother
; and they arrayed
themselves against
the sons
of Ammon
.
He said, "If
the Arameans
are too
strong
for me, then you shall help
me; but if
the sons
of Ammon
are too
strong
for you, then I will help
you.
"Be strong, and let us show
ourselves courageous
for the sake
of our people
and for the cities
of our God
; and may the LORD
do
what
is good
in His sight
."
So Joab and the people
who
were with him drew
near
to the battle
against
the Arameans
, and they fled
before
him.
When the sons of Ammon
saw
that the Arameans
fled
, they also
fled
before
Abshai
his brother
and entered
the city
. Then Joab
came
to Jerusalem
.
When the Arameans saw
that they had been 1defeated
by Israel
, they sent
messengers
and brought
out the Arameans
who
were beyond
the 2River
, with Shophach
the commander
of the army
of Hadadezer
3leading
them.
When it was told David
, he gathered
all
Israel
together and crossed
the Jordan
, and came
upon them and drew
up in formation
against
them. And when David
drew
up in battle
array against
the Arameans
, they fought
against
him.
The Arameans fled
before
Israel
, and David
killed
of the Arameans
7,000
charioteers
and 40,000
foot
soldiers
, and put
to death
Shophach
the commander
of the army
.
So when the servants of Hadadezer
saw
that they were 1defeated
by Israel
, they made
peace
with David
and served
him. Thus the Arameans
were not willing
to help
the sons
of Ammon
anymore
.