1 Chronicles 19

David's Messengers Abused

1 Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.2 Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.3 But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not 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 as far as their hips, and sent them away.5 Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return."

6 When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah.7 So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.9 The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.11 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.12 He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.13 Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight."14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.15 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the tRiver, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them.17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against him.18 The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army.19 So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.

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.