2 Samuel 10

1And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun took his place as king.

2And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

2David thought, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent some of his officials to express his sympathy to Hanun about his father’s death. But when David’s officials arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

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

3the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, 'Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending people to comfort you? Hasn’t he actually sent them to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it?'

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

4So Hanun seized David’s officials, shaved off half of each man’s beard, and cut off their clothes at the waist, exposing them. Then he sent them away.

5When they told it unto David, 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 about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, 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 were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.

6When the Ammonites realized they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

7When David heard about this, he sent Joab out with the entire army of his best warriors.

8And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

8The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open fields.

9Now 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:

9When Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him, he chose the best troops of Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.

10and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.

10He put the rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai and deployed them against the Ammonites.

11And 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 come and help thee.

11Joab said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, you must come help me. But if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

12Be 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.

12Be strong! Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what he thinks is best.'

13So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

13Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled from him.

14And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away, they also fled from Abishai and retreated into the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.

15And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

15When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered their forces together again.

16And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

16Hadadezer sent word and brought Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River; they went to Helam, led by Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.

17And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

17When David was told about this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and went to Helam. The Arameans positioned themselves against David and fought him.

18And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.

18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their horsemen. He also struck down Shobach, the commander of their army, and he died there.

19And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

19When all the kings who were subjects of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became their subjects. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.