¹ Now it came to pass after this, that 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 father showed 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.

³ But 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 unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

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

⁵ Then 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.

⁶ And 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.

⁷ So 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.

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

⁹ And 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.

¹⁰ Now 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.

¹¹ And 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.

¹² And 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.

¹³ Be 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.

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

¹⁵ And 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.

¹⁶ And 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.

¹⁷ And 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.

¹⁸ But 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.

¹⁹ And 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.

---

¹ Now it came to pass after this, ^H310 that Nahash ^H5176 the king ^H4428 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 died, ^H4191 and his son ^H1121 reigned ^H4427 in his stead.

² And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 I will shew ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 unto Hanun ^H2586 the son ^H1121 of Nahash, ^H5176 because his father ^H1 shewed ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 to me. And David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to comfort ^H5162 him concerning his father. ^H1 So the servants ^H5650 of David ^H1732 came ^H935 into the land ^H776 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 to Hanun, ^H2586 to comfort ^H5162 him.

³ But the princes ^H8269 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 said ^H559 to Hanun, ^H2586 Thinkest ^H5869 thou that David ^H1732 doth honour ^H3513 thy father, ^H1 that he hath sent ^H7971 comforters ^H5162 unto thee? are not his servants ^H5650 come ^H935 unto thee for to search, ^H2713 and to overthrow, ^H2015 and to spy out ^H7270 the land? ^H776

⁴ Wherefore Hanun ^H2586 took ^H3947 David's ^H1732 servants, ^H5650 and shaved ^H1548 them, and cut off ^H3772 their garments ^H4063 in the midst ^H2677 hard by their buttocks, ^H4667 and sent them away. ^H7971

⁵ Then there went ^H3212 certain, and told ^H5046 David ^H1732 how the men ^H582 were served. And he sent ^H7971 to meet ^H7125 them: for the men ^H582 were greatly ^H3966 ashamed. ^H3637 And the king ^H4428 said, ^H559 Tarry ^H3427 at Jericho ^H3405 until your beards ^H2206 be grown, ^H6779 and then return. ^H7725

⁶ And when the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 saw ^H7200 that they had made themselves odious ^H887 to David, ^H1732 Hanun ^H2586 and the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 sent ^H7971 a thousand ^H505 talents ^H3603 of silver ^H3701 to hire ^H7936 them chariots ^H7393 and horsemen ^H6571 out of Mesopotamia, ^H763 and out of Syriamaachah, ^{H758 H4601} and out of Zobah. ^H6678

⁷ So they hired ^H7936 thirty ^H7970 and two ^H8147 thousand ^H505 chariots, ^H7393 and the king ^H4428 of Maachah ^H4601 and his people; ^H5971 who came ^H935 and pitched ^H2583 before ^H6440 Medeba. ^H4311 And the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 gathered themselves together ^H622 from their cities, ^H5892 and came ^H935 to battle. ^H4421

⁸ And when David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 of it, he sent ^H7971 Joab, ^H3097 and all the host ^H6635 of the mighty men. ^H1368

⁹ And the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 came out, ^H3318 and put the battle ^H4421 in array ^H6186 before the gate ^H6607 of the city: ^H5892 and the kings ^H4428 that were come ^H935 were by themselves in the field. ^H7704

¹⁰ Now when Joab ^H3097 saw ^H7200 that the battle ^H4421 was set against him before ^H6440 and behind, ^H268 he chose out ^H977 of all the choice ^H977 of Israel, ^H3478 and put them in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 the Syrians. ^H758

¹¹ And the rest ^H3499 of the people ^H5971 he delivered ^H5414 unto the hand ^H3027 of Abishai ^H52 his brother, ^H251 and they set themselves in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983

¹² And he said, ^H559 If the Syrians ^H758 be too strong ^H2388 for me, then thou shalt help ^H8668 me: but if the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 be too strong ^H2388 for thee, then I will help ^H3467 thee.

¹³ Be of good courage, ^H2388 and let us behave ourselves valiantly ^H2388 for our people, ^H5971 and for the cities ^H5892 of our God: ^H430 and let the LORD ^H3068 do ^H6213 that which is good ^H2896 in his sight. ^H5869

¹⁴ So Joab ^H3097 and the people ^H5971 that were with him drew nigh ^H5066 before ^H6440 the Syrians ^H758 unto the battle; ^H4421 and they fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 him.

¹⁵ And when the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 saw ^H7200 that the Syrians ^H758 were fled, ^H5127 they likewise fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 Abishai ^H52 his brother, ^H251 and entered ^H935 into the city. ^H5892 Then Joab ^H3097 came ^H935 to Jerusalem. ^H3389

¹⁶ And when the Syrians ^H758 saw ^H7200 that they were put to the worse ^H5062 before ^H6440 Israel, ^H3478 they sent ^H7971 messengers, ^H4397 and drew forth ^H3318 the Syrians ^H758 that were beyond ^H5676 the river: ^H5104 and Shophach ^H7780 the captain ^H8269 of the host ^H6635 of Hadarezer ^H1928 went before ^H6440 them.

¹⁷ And it was told ^H5046 David; ^H1732 and he gathered ^H622 all Israel, ^H3478 and passed over ^H5674 Jordan, ^H3383 and came ^H935 upon them, and set the battle in array ^H6186 against them. So when David ^H1732 had put the battle ^H4421 in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 the Syrians, ^H758 they fought ^H3898 with him.

¹⁸ But the Syrians ^H758 fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 Israel; ^H3478 and David ^H1732 slew ^H2026 of the Syrians ^H758 seven ^H7651 thousand ^H505 men which fought in chariots, ^H7393 and forty ^H705 thousand ^H505 footmen, ^{H376 H7273} and killed ^H4191 Shophach ^H7780 the captain ^H8269 of the host. ^H6635

¹⁹ And when the servants ^H5650 of Hadarezer ^H1928 saw ^H7200 that they were put to the worse ^H5062 before ^H6440 Israel, ^H3478 they made peace ^H7999 with David, ^H1732 and became his servants: ^H5647 neither would ^H14 the Syrians ^H758 help ^H3467 the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 any more.

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, that 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 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.

³ But 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?

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

⁵ Then 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.

⁶ And 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 Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.

⁷ So 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.

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

⁹ And 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.

¹⁰ Now 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.

¹¹ And 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.

¹² And 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.

¹³ Be 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.

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

¹⁵ And 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.

¹⁶ And 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.

¹⁷ And 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.

¹⁸ And 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.

¹⁹ And 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.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon dieth, and his son reigneth in his stead,

² and David saith, `I do kindness with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father did with me kindness;' and David sendeth messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David come in unto the land of the sons of Ammon, unto Hanun, to comfort him,

³ and the heads of the sons of Ammon say to Hanun, `Is David honouring thy father, in thine eyes, because he hath sent to thee comforters? in order to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out, the land, have not his servants come in unto thee?'

⁴ And Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth them, and cutteth their long robes in the midst, unto the buttocks, and sendeth them away.

⁵ And `some' go, and declare to David concerning the men, and he sendeth to meet them -- for the men have been greatly ashamed -- and the king saith, `Dwell in Jericho till that your beard is grown, then ye have returned.'

⁶ And the sons of Ammon see that they have made themselves abhorred by David, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon send a thousand talents of silver, to hire to them, from Aram-Naharaim, and from Aram-Maachah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen;

⁷ and they hire to them two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, and they come in and encamp before Medeba, and the sons of Ammon have been gathered out of their cities, and come in to the battle.

⁸ And David heareth, and sendeth Joab, and all the host of the mighty men,

⁹ and the sons of Ammon come out and set battle in array at the opening of the city, and the kings who have come `are' by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ And Joab seeth that the front of the battle hath been unto him, before and behind, and he chooseth out of all the choice in Israel, and setteth in array to meet Aram,

¹¹ and the remnant of the people he hath given into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set in array to meet the sons of Ammon.

¹² And he saith, `If Aram be stronger than I, then thou hast been to me for salvation; and if the sons of Ammon be stronger than thou, then I have saved thee;

¹³ be strong, and we strengthen ourselves, for our people, and for the cities of our God, and Jehovah doth that which is good in His eyes.'

¹⁴ And Joab draweth nigh, and the people who `are' with him, before Aram to battle, and they flee from his face;

¹⁵ and the sons of Ammon have seen that Aram hath fled, and they flee -- they also -- from the face of Abishai his brother, and go in to the city. And Joab cometh in to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And Aram seeth that they have been smitten before Israel, and send messengers, and bring out Aram that `is' beyond the River, and Shophach head of the host of Hadarezer `is' before them.

¹⁷ And it is declared to David, and he gathereth all Israel, and passeth over the Jordan, and cometh in unto them, and setteth in array against them; yea, David setteth in array the battle to meet Aram, and they fight with him;

¹⁸ and Aram fleeth from the face of Israel, and David slayeth of Aram seven thousand charioteers, and forty thousand footmen, and Shophach head of the host he hath put to death.

¹⁹ And the servants of Hadarezer see that they have been smitten before Israel, and they make peace with David and serve him, and Aram hath not been willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.

---

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

² And David said, I will shew kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And 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.

³ And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Is it, in thine eyes, to honour thy father that David has sent comforters to thee? Is it not to search and overthrow, and to spy out the land that his servants are come to thee?

⁴ And Hanun took David's servants, and had them shaved, and their raiment cut off in the midst, as far as the hip, and sent them away.

⁵ And [certain] went and told David concerning the men; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Abide at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

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

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

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

⁹ And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the city; and the kings that had come were by themselves on the field.

¹⁰ And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;

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

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

¹³ Be strong, and let us shew ourselves valiant for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Jehovah will do what is good in his sight.

¹⁴ And Joab and the people that were with him drew near in front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

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

¹⁶ And when the Syrians saw that they were routed 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.

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

¹⁸ And the Syrians fled from before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand [in] chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and slew Shophach the captain of the host.

¹⁹ And the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were routed before Israel, and they made peace with David, and became his servants. And the Syrians would no more help the children of Ammon.

---

¹ It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

² David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shown kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

³ But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Think you that David does honor your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Aren't his servants come to you to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

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

⁵ Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

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

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

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

⁹ The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ Now 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.

¹¹ 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.

¹² He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will help you.

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

¹⁴ So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

¹⁷ It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came on 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.

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

¹⁹ 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.

---

¹ Now it came about after this that death came to Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, and his son became king in his place.

² And David said, I will be a friend to Hanun, the son of Nahash, because his father was a friend to me. So David sent men to him, to give him words of comfort on account of his father. And the servants of David came to Hanun, to the land of the children of Ammon, offering him comfort.

³ But the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Does it seem to you that David is honouring your father, by sending comforters to you? is it not clear that these men have only come to go through the land and to make secret observation of it so that they may overcome it?

⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, and cutting off their hair and the skirts of their robes up to the middle, sent them away.

⁵ Then certain men went and gave David word of what had been done to them. And he sent out with the purpose of meeting them; for the men were greatly shamed. And the king said, Keep where you are at Jericho till your hair is long again, and then come back.

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves hated by David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver as payment for war-carriages and horsemen from Mesopotamia and Aram-maacah and Zobah.

⁷ So with this money they got thirty-two thousand war-carriages, and the help of the king of Maacah and his people, who came and took up their position in front of Medeba. And the children of Ammon came together from their towns for the fight.

⁸ And David, hearing of it, sent Joab with all the army of fighting-men.

⁹ So the children of Ammon came out and put their forces in position on the way into the town; and the kings who had come were stationed by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ Now when Joab saw that their forces were in position against him in front and at his back, he took all the best men of Israel, and put them in line against the Aramaeans;

¹¹ And the rest of the people he put in position against the children of Ammon with Abishai, his brother, at their head.

¹² And he said, If the Aramaeans are stronger and get the better of me, then come to my help; and if the children of Ammon get the better of you, I will come to your help.

¹³ Take heart, and let us be strong for our people and for the towns of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.

¹⁴ So Joab and the people who were with him went forward into the fight against the Aramaeans, and they went in flight before him.

¹⁵ And when the children of Ammon saw the flight of the Aramaeans, they themselves went in flight from Abishai, his brother, and came into the town. Then Joab came back to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And when the Aramaeans saw that Israel had overcome them, they sent men to get the Aramaeans who were on the other side of the River, with Shophach, the captain of Hadadezer's army, at their head.

¹⁷ And word of this was given to David; and he got all Israel together and went over Jordan and came to Helam and put his forces in position against them. And when David's forces were in position against the Aramaeans, the fight was started.

¹⁸ And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to the sword the men of seven thousand Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand footmen, and put to death Shophach, the captain of the army.

¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were overcome by Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants: and the Aramaeans would give no more help to the children of Ammon.