The Ammonites abuse David’s ambassadors: both they and their
confederates are overthrown.
19:1. Now it came to pass that Naas the king of the children of Ammon
died, and his son reigned in his stead.
19:2. And David said: I will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Naas:
for his father did a favour to me. And David sent messengers to comfort
him upon the death of his father. But when they were come into the land
of the children of Ammon, to comfort Hanon,
19:3. 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.
19:4. Wherefore Hanon shaved the heads and beards of the servants of
David, and cut away their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and
sent them away.
19:5. And when they were gone, they sent word to David, who sent to
meet them (for they had suffered a great affront) and ordered them to
stay at Jericho till their beards grew and then to return.
19:6. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had done an injury
to David, Hanon and the rest of the people sent a thousand talents of
silver, to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out
of Syria Maacha, and out of Soba.
19:7. And they hired two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of
Maacha, with his people. And they came and camped over against Medaba.
And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their
cities, and came to battle.
19:8. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of
valiant men:
19:9. And the children of Ammon came out and put their army in array
before the gate of the city: and the kings, that were come to their
aid, stood apart in the field.
19:10. Wherefore Joab understanding that the battle was set against him
before and behind, chose out the bravest men of all Israel, and marched
against the Syrians,
19:11. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abisai
his brother, and they went against the children of Ammon.
19:12. And he said: If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou
shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, I
will help thee.
19:13. Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves manfully for our
people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord will do that which
is good in his sight.
19:14. So Joab and the people that were with him, went against the
Syrians to the battle: and he put them to flight.
19:15. And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled,
they likewise fled from Abisai his brother, and went into the city: and
Joab also returned to Jerusalem.
19:16. But the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, sent
messengers, and brought to them the Syrians that were beyond the river:
and Sophach, general of the army of Adarezer, was their leader.
19:17. And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and
passed the Jordan, and came upon them, and put his army in array
against them, and they fought with him.
19:18. But the Syrian fled before Israel: and David slew of the Syrians
seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and Sophach the
general of the army.
Seven thousand chariots.... That is, of men who fought in chariots.
19:19. And when the servants of Adarezer saw themselves overcome by
Israel, they went over to David, and served him: and Syria would not
help the children of Ammon any more.