1 Chronicles 19:3
New International Version
the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?”

New Living Translation
the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!”

English Standard Version
But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

Berean Standard Bible
the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

King James Bible
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour 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?

New King James Version
And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

New American Standard Bible
But the commanders among 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 his servants not come to you to search, to demolish, and to spy out the land?”

NASB 1995
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?”

NASB 1977
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?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

Amplified Bible
But the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think that David has sent people to console and comfort you because he honors your father? Have his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

Christian Standard Bible
the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, haven’t his emissaries come in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his emissaries in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land?”

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, "Do you really believe King David is honoring your father by sending these men to comfort you? He probably sent them to spy on our country, so he can come and destroy it."

English Revised Version
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour 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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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?"

Good News Translation
the Ammonite leaders said to the king, "Do you think that it is in your father's honor that David has sent these men to express sympathy to you? Of course not! He has sent them here as spies to explore the land, so that he can conquer it!"

International Standard Version
the Ammonite officials asked Hanun, "Do you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived to search, overthrow, and scout the land, hasn't it?"

Majority Standard Bible
the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, ?Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it??

NET Bible
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? No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!"

New Heart English Bible
But the leaders of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven't his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?"

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

World English Bible
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven’t his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the heads of the sons of Ammon say to Hanun, “Is David honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent comforters to you? Have his servants not come to you in order to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”

Young's Literal Translation
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?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the chiefs of the sons of Ammon will say to Hanun, Is David honoring thy father in thine eyes, that he sent comforters to thee? is it not in order to search out, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land, came his servants to thee?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon: Thou thinkest perhaps that David to do honour to thy father hath sent comforters to thee: and thou dost not take notice, that his servants are come to thee to consider, and search, and spy out thy land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
the leaders of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun: “Do you think that perhaps David has sent them to console you in order to honor your father? Have you not noticed that his servants came to you so that they might explore, and investigate, and examine your land?”

New American Bible
the Ammonite princes said to Hanun, “Do you think David is doing this—sending you these consolers—to honor your father? Have not his servants rather come to you to explore the land, spying it out for its overthrow?”

New Revised Standard Version
the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
- - -

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Princes of the children of Amon were saying to Khanun their Lord: “Surely David was honoring your father for his life because, look, he sent comforters to you to spy out the city, and to know the exits and the entrances David sent his Servants to us!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun: 'Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, 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?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Anan, Is it to honour thy father before thee, that David has sent comforters to thee? Have not his servants come to thee that they might search the city, and to spy out the land?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Messengers Disgraced
2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 10:3
the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

1 Samuel 10:27
But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.

1 Samuel 25:10
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

2 Samuel 16:3
“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”

2 Samuel 19:26-27
“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, / and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

1 Kings 12:10-11
The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! / Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

1 Kings 20:3-6
saying, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘Your silver and gold are mine, and your best wives and children are mine!’” / And the king of Israel replied, “Just as you say, my lord the king: I am yours, along with all that I have.” / The messengers came back and said, “This is what Ben-hadad says: ‘I have sent to you to demand your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children. ...

2 Kings 18:20-22
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? / Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. / But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem: ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?

Nehemiah 6:6-8
that read: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem agrees—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and this is why you are building the wall. According to these reports, you are to become their king, / and you have even appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim on your behalf: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Soon these rumors will reach the ears of the king. So come, let us confer together.” / Then I sent him this reply: “There is nothing to these rumors you are spreading; you are inventing them in your own mind.”

Psalm 41:6-9
My visitor speaks falsehood; he gathers slander in his heart; he goes out and spreads it abroad. / All who hate me whisper against me; they imagine the worst for me: / “A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!” ...

Psalm 109:4-5
In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. / They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Proverbs 25:8-10
do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame? / Argue your case with your neighbor without betraying another’s confidence, / lest the one who hears may disgrace you, and your infamy never go away.

Isaiah 36:5-7
You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me? / Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. / But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before this altar’?

Jeremiah 40:13-14
Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah / and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Matthew 10:25
It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!


Treasury of Scripture

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

but the princes

1 Samuel 29:4,9
And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men? …

1 Kings 12:8-11
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: …

Thinkest thou that David.

1 Corinthians 13:5-7
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; …

to search

Genesis 42:9-18
And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come…

Joshua 2:1-3
And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there…

Judges 1:23,24
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.) …

Jump to Previous
Ammon Ammonite Ammonites Chiefs Children Comforters Country David Explore Express Hanun Honor Honoring Honour Nobles Overthrow Princes Search Seem Sending Servants Spy Sympathy Think Thinkest
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Ammon Ammonite Ammonites Chiefs Children Comforters Country David Explore Express Hanun Honor Honoring Honour Nobles Overthrow Princes Search Seem Sending Servants Spy Sympathy Think Thinkest
1 Chronicles 19
1. David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun, are villainously treated
6. The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai
16. Shobach, making a new supply of the Syrians, is slain by David














the princes of the Ammonites
The term "princes" refers to the leaders or officials of the Ammonites, a Semitic people descended from Lot, Abraham's nephew. The Ammonites were often in conflict with Israel, and their leaders played crucial roles in these interactions. Historically, the Ammonites occupied the region east of the Jordan River, in what is now modern-day Jordan. Their skepticism towards David's intentions reflects the longstanding tension and mistrust between the two nations.

said to Hanun
Hanun was the son of Nahash, the king of the Ammonites. Upon Nahash's death, Hanun ascended to the throne. The advice given to Hanun by his princes reveals the political dynamics and the influence of advisors in ancient Near Eastern monarchies. It also highlights the vulnerability of new rulers to manipulation and poor counsel, a theme recurrent in biblical narratives.

Do you really think that David is honoring your father
This phrase questions David's motives, suggesting suspicion and doubt. The Hebrew root for "honoring" (כָּבֵד, kaved) implies giving weight or respect. In the ancient Near East, honoring a deceased leader through acts of kindness to their successor was a common diplomatic practice. However, the Ammonite princes cast doubt on David's sincerity, reflecting a broader theme of mistrust and the complexities of international relations.

by sending you comforters?
Comforters were emissaries sent to express sympathy and offer condolences. In the context of ancient customs, this was a gesture of goodwill and respect. The suspicion cast on these comforters by the Ammonite princes underscores the fragile nature of trust between rival nations and the potential for misinterpretation of diplomatic gestures.

Has not David sent his servants to you
The term "servants" here refers to David's envoys or representatives. In the ancient world, such envoys were extensions of the king's authority and intentions. The questioning of their purpose reflects the broader theme of espionage and the fear of betrayal, which were common concerns in the geopolitics of the time.

to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?
This phrase encapsulates the fear of espionage and military conquest. The Hebrew roots for "explore" (חָקַר, chakar), "spy" (רָגַל, ragal), and "overthrow" (הָפַךְ, haphak) convey a sense of thorough investigation, secretive observation, and violent upheaval, respectively. These actions were typical of ancient warfare strategies, where intelligence gathering was crucial for successful military campaigns. The accusation against David's intentions reflects the Ammonite leaders' defensive posture and the ever-present threat of conflict in the region.

(3) Are not his servants come . . . for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?--Literally, Is it not for to search . . . that his servants are come unto thee? This is hardly an improvement on Samuel: "Is it not to search the city (Rabbath-Ammon, the capital), and to spy it out, and to overthrow it, that David hath sent his servants unto thee?" The Syriac and Arabic agree with Samuel in reading "city;" LXX. and Vulg., "land."

Verse 3. - Thinkest thou that David, etc.? The Hebrew is, "In thine eyes doth David?" The order of to overthrow, and to spy out is reversed in Samuel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the princes
שָׂרֵ֨י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of the Ammonites
בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

said
וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Hanun,
לְחָנ֗וּן (lə·ḥā·nūn)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2586: Hanun -- 'favored', two contemporaries of Nehemiah, also an Ammonite king

“Just because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

David has sent
שָׁלַ֥ח (šā·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

you
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

comforters,
מְנַחֲמִ֑ים (mə·na·ḥă·mîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

do you really believe
בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

he is
דָּוִ֤יד (dā·wîḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

showing respect
הַֽמְכַבֵּ֨ד (ham·ḵab·bêḏ)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

for your father?
אָבִ֙יךָ֙ (’ā·ḇî·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

Have not
הֲלֹ֡א (hă·lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

his servants
עֲבָדָ֖יו (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

come
בָּ֥אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to you
אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

to explore
לַחְקֹ֨ר (laḥ·qōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2713: To penetrate, to examine intimately

the land,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

spy it out,
וּלְרַגֵּל֙ (ū·lə·rag·gêl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7270: To walk along, to reconnoiter, to be a, tale-bearer, to lead about

and overthrow it??
וְלַהֲפֹ֤ךְ (wə·la·hă·p̄ōḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 19:3 But the princes of the children (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 19:2
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