1 Chronicles 19

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 Dawid said, “I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me.” And Dawid sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of Dawid 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 you that Dawid doth honor your father, that he hath sent comforters unto you? Are not his servants come unto you for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”

4 Wherefore Hanun took Dawid’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 Dawid how the men were served. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Tarry at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.”

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to Dawid, 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 (Aram-Maakhah), 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 Dawid heard of it, he sent Yoav, and all the army 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 Yoav saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Yisrael, and put them in array against the Syrians (Arammim).

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

12 And he said, “If the Syrians (Arammim) be too strong for me, then you shalt 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 behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God (Elohim); and let יהוה do that which is good in His sight.”

14 So Yoav and the people that were with him drew near before the Syrians (Arammim) unto the battle; and they fled before him.

15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians (Arammim) were fled, they likewise fled before Avishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Yoav came to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

16 And when the Syrians (Arammim) saw that they were put to the worse before Yisrael, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians (Arammim) that were beyond the river; and Shophach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.

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

18 But the Syrians (Arammim) fled before Yisrael; and Dawid slew of the Syrians (Arammim) seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the army.

19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Yisrael, they made peace with Dawid, and became his servants; neither would the Syria (Aram) help the children of Ammon anymore.