1 Chronicles - 19

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.