1 Chronicles 19:1-15 ▼

1 And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father, and the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3 And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Is David honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent to you comforters? Is it not in order to search out and to overthrow and to spy out the land that his servants have come to you?”

4 And Hanun took the servants of David and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and he sent them away.

5 And some went and declared to David concerning the men, and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Dwell at Jericho until that your? beards have grown; and return.”

6 And the sons of Ammon saw that they were a stench to David, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves from Aram-naharaim, and from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen.

7 And they hired for themselves two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, and they came in and encamped before the face of Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came in to the battle.

8 And David heard, and he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.

9 And the sons of Ammon came out for battle and arrayed themselves before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

10 And Joab saw that the front of the battle was to him before and behind, and he chose some of the choice in Israel, and he arrayed against Aram.

11 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they arrayed against the sons of Ammon.

12 And he said, “If Aram is too strong for me, you shall be to me for salvation. And if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will save you.

13 Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God. And YHWH shall do good in His sight.”

14 And Joab drew near, and the people who were with him, against Aram to battle; and they fled from his face.

15 And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram was fleeing, and fled they also before Abishai his brother and entered the city. And Joab went to Jerusalem.