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.
19:2 And David said, I will show kindness to 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.
19:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun,
Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath
sent comforters to thee? are not his servants come to thee to
search, and to overthrow, and to explore the land?
19:4 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.
19:5 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
are grown, and [then] return.
19:6 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 Syria-maachah, and out
of Zobah.
19:7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the
king of Maachah and his people, who came and encamped before
Medeba. And the children of Ammon assembled from their cities,
and came to battle.
19:8 And when David heard [of it], he sent Joab, and all the
host of the mighty men.
19:9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in
array before the gate of the city: and the kings that had come
[were] by themselves in the field.
19:10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him
before and behind, he selected all the choice of Israel, and
put [them] in array against the Syrians.
19:11 And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of
Abishai his brother, and they set [themselves] in array against
the children of Ammon.
19:12 And he said, If the Syrians shall be too strong for me,
then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon shall be
too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
19:13 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.
19:14 So Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh
before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
19:15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had
fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and
entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
19:16 And when the Syrians saw that they were defeated 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.
19:17 And it was told to 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.
19:18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the
Syrians seven thousand [men who fought in] chariots, and forty
thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
19:19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were
defeated before Israel, they made peace with David, and became
his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of
Ammon any more.
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