1 Chronicles 19

1And 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, and his son became king in his place.

2And David said, I will show kindness unto 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 into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

2David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father was kind to me.' So David sent messengers to express sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s officials arrived in the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun,

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

3the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, 'Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending these men to comfort you? Haven't his servants actually come here to explore, spy out the land, and overthrow it?'

4So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

4So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved them, and cut their robes off at the waist, exposing their buttocks. Then he sent them away.

5Then there went certain persons, 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.

5When David was told what had happened to the men, he sent messengers to meet them, because they were deeply humiliated. The king told them, 'Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return 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 Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah.

6When the Ammonites realized they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent seventy-five thousand pounds of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

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

7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and set up camp near Medeba. The Ammonites also came out from their own towns and gathered for battle.

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

8When David heard about this, he sent Joab and his entire army of brave warriors.

9And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at 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 entrance to their city, while the kings who had come to help were positioned by themselves in the open fields.

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

10When Joab saw that there were battle lines against him in both the front and the back, he chose the best troops of Israel and lined them up to fight the Syrians.

11And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

11He put the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai and lined them up against 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 told him, 'If the Syrians are too strong for me, you come and help me. But if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.

13Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

13Be strong! Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in his sight.'

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

14Then Joab and his troops moved forward to attack the Syrians, and the Syrians fled 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.

15When the Ammonites saw that the Syrians were running away, they also fled from Joab’s brother Abishai and retreated into the city. So Joab went back 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, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

16When the Syrians realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Syrians from across the Euphrates River, led by Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.

17And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the 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.

17When David was told about this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and moved toward them. He lined up his troops for battle, and when he attacked the Syrians, they fought back.

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

18But the Syrians fled before Israel. David killed seven thousand of their chariot drivers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, the commander of the army.

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

19When the subjects of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After that, the Syrians were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.