2 Samuel 10

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 After this, when the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him,	1 Now after these things, it happened that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned after him.
2 David thought, 'I shal show Hanun son of Nahash the same faithful love as his father showed me.'And David sent his representatives to offer him condolences over his father. But, when David's representativesreached the Ammonites' country,	2 And David said, “I will show mercy to Hanun, the son of Nahash, just as his father showed mercy to me.” Therefore, David sent consolation to him, by his servants, over the passing of his father. But when the servants of David had arrived in the land of the sons of Ammon,
3 the Ammonite princes said to Hanun their master, 'Do you really think David means to honour yourfather when he sends you messengers with sympathy? On the contrary, the reason why David has sent hisrepresentatives to you is to explore the city, to reconnoitre and so overthrow it.'	3 the leaders of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, their lord: “Do you think it was because of the honor of your father that David sent consolers to you? And did not David send his servants to you, so that he might investigate and explore the city, and so that he might overthrow it?”
4 Whereupon Hanun seized David's representatives, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes offhalfway up, at their buttocks, and sent them away.	4 And so, Hanun took the servants of David, and he shaved off one half part of their beards, and he cut their garments at the middle, as far as the buttocks, and he sent them away.
5 When David was told, he sent someone to meet them, since the men were overcome with shame.'Stay in Jericho', the king said, 'until your beards have grown again, and come back then.'	5 And when this had been reported to David, he sent to meet them. And the men were greatly disturbed by shame. And David commanded them, “Remain in Jericho, until your beards grow, and then return.”
6 When the Ammonites realised that they had antagonised David, they sent agents to hire twentythousand foot soldiers from the Aramaeans of Beth-Rehob and the Aramaeans of Zobah, one thousand menfrom the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from the prince of Tob.	6 Now the sons of Ammon, seeing that they had done an injury to David, sent for, and paid wages to, the Syrians of Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and from the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and from Tob, twelve thousand men.
7 When David heard this, he sent Joab with the whole army, the champions.	7 And when David had heard this, he sent Joab and the entire army of warriors.
8 The Ammonites marched out and drew up their line of battle at the city gate, while the Aramaeans ofZobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah kept their distance in the open country.	8 Then the sons of Ammon went forth, and they positioned their battle line before the very entrance of the gates. But the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and of Tob, and of Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9 Joab, seeing that he had to fight on two fronts, to his front and to his rear, chose the best of Israel'spicked men and drew them up in line facing the Aramaeans.	9 And so, seeing that the battle had been prepared against him, both facing him and behind, Joab chose some from all of the elect men of Israel, and he set up a battle line opposite the Syrians.
10 He entrusted the rest of the army to his brother Abishai, and drew them up in line facing theAmmonites.	10 But the remaining part of the people he delivered to his brother Abishai, who formed a battle line against the sons of Ammon.
11 'If the Aramaeans prove too strong for me,' he said, 'you must come to my help; if the Ammonitesprove too strong for you, I shal come to yours.	11 And Joab said: “If the Syrians prevail against me, then you shall assist me. But if the sons of Ammon prevail against you, then I will assist you.
12 Be brave! Let us acquit ourselves like men for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God.And let Yahweh do as he thinks right!'	12 Be valiant men. And let us fight on behalf of our people and the city of our God. Then the Lord will do what is good in his own sight.”
13 Joab and the force with him joined battle with the Aramaeans, who fled at his onslaught.	13 And so, Joab, and the people who were with him, undertook the conflict against the Syrians, who immediately fled before their face.
14 When the Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans had fled, they too fled from Abishai and withdrew intothe city. Hence, Joab broke off his campaign against the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.	14 Then, seeing that the Syrians had fled, the sons of Ammon themselves also fled from the face of Abishai, and they entered into the city. And Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and he went to Jerusalem.
15 The Aramaeans, realising that Israel had got the better of them, concentrated their forces.	15 And so, the Syrians, seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together.
16 Hadadezer sent messengers and mobilised the Aramaeans living on the other side of the river; andthese arrived at Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army, at their head.	16 And Hadadezer sent and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river, and he led in their army. And Shobach, the rule of the military of Hadadezer, was their leader.
17 David, being informed of this, mustered al Israel, crossed the Jordan and arrived at Helam. TheAramaeans drew up in line facing David and engaged him.	17 And when this had been reported to David, he drew together all of Israel. And he crossed over the Jordan, and he went to Helam. And the Syrians formed a battle line opposite David, and they fought against him.
18 But the Aramaeans fled from Israel, and David kil ed seven hundred of their chariot teams and fortythousand men; he also cut down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.	18 And the Syrians fled before the face of Israel. And David killed, among the Syrians, the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen. And he struck down Shobach, the leader of the military, who immediately died.
19 When al Hadadezer's vassal kings saw that Israel had got the better of them, they made peace withthe Israelites and became their subjects. The Aramaeans were afraid to give any more help to the Ammonites.	19 Then all the kings who were in the reinforcements of Hadadezer, seeing themselves to be defeated by Israel, were very afraid and they fled: fifty-eight thousand men before Israel. And they made peace with Israel, and they served them. And the Syrians were afraid to offer assistance to the sons of Ammon anymore.