“1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the
children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 2 And David
said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his
father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him
concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of
the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. 3 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?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off
their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 Then there went [certain], and told David how the men were served. And
he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king
said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.”
“6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves
odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents
of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out
of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. 7 So they hired thirty and two
thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and
pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves
together from their cities, and came to battle. 8 And when David heard
[of it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 9 And the
children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate
of the city: and the kings that were come [were] by themselves in the
field. 10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before
and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put [them] in
array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he delivered
unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set [themselves] in array
against the children of Ammon. 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, then I will help thee. 13 Be of good courage, and
let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of
our God: and let the LORD do [that which is] good in his sight. 14 So
Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh before the Syrians
unto the battle; and they fled before him. 15 And when the children of
Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai
his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. 16
And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel,
they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that [were] beyond the
river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before
them. 17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed
over Jordan, and came upon them, and set [the battle] in array against
them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians,
they fought with him. 18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David
slew of the Syrians seven thousand [men which fought in] chariots, and
forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. 19
And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse
before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants:
neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.” (1
Chronicles 19:1-19 AV)
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