1 Chronicles 19

David Defeats Ammon and Aram—2 Samuel 10:1–19

1 Later King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun because his father Nahash showed me kindness.” So David sent messengers to comfort Hanun after his father’s death. But when David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to comfort Nahash,3 the Ammonite princes asked Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Haven’t his servants come to explore, destroy, and spy on the country?”

4 So Hanun took David’s men, shaved them, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.
5 After people told David what had happened to the men, he sent someone to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return to Jerusalem.”6 The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and horses from the Arameans in Upper Mesopotamia, Maacah, and Zobah.

7 They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army. They camped near Medeba. The Ammonites gathered for the battle from their cities.
8 After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops.

9 The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the kings who had come remained by themselves in the open country.
10 When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans.

11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. They organized for combat against the Ammonites.
12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for my troops, be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your troops, I’ll help you.

13 Be strong! Let’s prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the Lord will do what he considers right.”
14 Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled.

15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they, too, fled from Joab’s brother Abishai and went into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16 Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the kings sent messengers to get other Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army, led them.17 When David was told about this, he assembled Israel’s army, crossed the Jordan, and confronted them. David formed a battle line against the Arameans, and they fought him.18 The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 7,000 chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. David also killed Shophach.

19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with David and became his subjects. And the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

1 Chronicles 19

David’s Campaign against the Ammonites

1 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him.2 David said, “I will express my loyaltyt to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyalt to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death.t When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy,t3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy?t No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!”s4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off.t He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposedt and then sent them away.

5 Messengerst came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jerichos until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”
6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them,t Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talentst of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.t

7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.
8 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.t9 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.st11 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.12 Joabt said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,t you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,t I will come to your rescue.13 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”t14 So Joab and his ment marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him.

15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab’st brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.s
16 When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River,t led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer’s army.t17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River,t and marched against them.st David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him.t18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000s Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophacht the commanding general.

19 When Hadadezer’s subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.