1 Chronicles 19

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 After this, when Nahash king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him,	1 Now it happened that Nahash, the king of the sons of Ammon, died, and his son reigned in his place.
2 David thought, 'I shal show Hanun son of Nahash the same faithful love as his father showed me.'And David sent representatives to offer him condolences over his father. But when David's representativesreached Hanun in the Ammonites' country to present these condolences,	2 And David said: “I will act with mercy toward Hanun, the son of Nahash. For his father was gracious to me.” And so David sent messengers to console him over the death of his father. But when they had reached the land of the sons of Ammon, so that they might console Hanun,
3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, 'Do you real y think David means to honour your father when hesends you messengers with sympathy? On the contrary, the reason why his representatives have come to you isto explore, overthrow and reconnoitre the country.'	3 the leaders of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun: “Do you think that perhaps David has sent them to console you in order to honor your father? Have you not noticed that his servants came to you so that they might explore, and investigate, and examine your land?”
4 Whereupon Hanun seized David's representatives, shaved them, cut their clothes off half-way up,right by their buttocks, and sent them away.	4 And so Hanun shaved the heads and beards of the servants of David, and he cut away their tunics from the buttocks to the feet, and he sent them away.
5 As soon as David was told how the men had been treated, he sent someone to meet them, since themen were overcome with shame. 'Stay in Jericho,' the king said, 'until your beards have grown, and come backthen.'	5 And when they had gone, and had sent word to David, (for they had suffered a great disgrace,) he sent to meet them, and he instructed them that they should remain at Jericho until their beards grew, and then they should return.
6 When the Ammonites realised that they had antagonised David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent athousand talents of silver to hire chariots and cavalry from the Aramaeans of Upper Mesopotamia, of Maacahand of Zobah.	6 Then, when the sons of Ammon realized that they had committed an injury against David, both Hanun and the rest of the people sent one thousand talents of silver, so that they might hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, and from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah.
7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his people, who came andencamped before Medeba, while the Ammonites, having left their towns and mustered, were advancing to thewar.	7 And they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah with his people. When these had arrived, they made camp in the region opposite Medeba. Also, the sons of Ammon, gathering from their cities, went to war.
8 When David heard this, he sent Joab with the whole army, the champions.	8 And when David had heard this, he sent Joab and the entire army of strong men.
9 The Ammonites marched out and drew up their line of battle at the city gate, while the kings who hadcome kept their distance in the open country.	9 And the sons of Ammon, going out, set up a battle line before the gate of the city. But the kings who had come to their aid stood separately in the field.
10 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.	10 And so Joab, understanding the war to be set facing him and behind his back, chose the strongest men from all of Israel, and he went out against the Syrians.
11 He entrusted the rest of the army to his brother Abishai, and drew them up in line facing theAmmonites.	11 But the remaining portion of the people he placed under the hand of his brother Abishai. And they went out against the sons of Ammon.
12 '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.	12 And he said: “If the Syrians prevail over me, then you shall be a help to me. But if the sons of Ammon prevail over you, I will be a safeguard for you.
13 Be brave and let us fight valiantly, for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God! And letYahweh dispose as he thinks fit!'	13 Be strengthened, and let us act manfully on behalf of our people, and on behalf of the cities of our God. And the Lord will do what is good in his own sight.”
14 Joab and the force with him joined battle with the Aramaeans, who fled at his onslaught.	14 Therefore, Joab, and the people who were with him, went out to battle against the Syrians. And he put them to flight.
15 When the Ammonites saw that the Aramaeans had fled, they too fled from his brother Abishai andwithdrew into the city. Joab then returned to Jerusalem.	15 Then the sons of Ammon, seeing that the Syrians had fled, also themselves fled from Abishai, his brother, and they entered into the city. And now Joab returned to Jerusalem.
16 The Aramaeans, realising that Israel had got the better of them, sent messengers and mobilised theAramaeans living on the other side of the River, with Shophach, commander of Hadadezer's army, at their head.	16 But the Syrians, seeing that they had fallen before Israel, sent messengers, and they brought the Syrians who were across the river. And Shophach, the leader of the military of Hadadezer, was their commander.
17 David, being informed of this, mustered al Israel, crossed the Jordan, made contact with them andtook up position near them. David drew up his line of battle facing the Aramaeans, who then engaged him.	17 When this had been reported to David, he gathered together all of Israel, and he crossed the Jordan. And he rushed toward them. And he set up a battle line facing them. And they fought against him.
18 But the Aramaeans fled from Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their chariot teams and fortythousand men; and also Shophach, the commander of the army.	18 But the Syrians fled from Israel. And David killed of the Syrians seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand men on foot, and Shophach, the leader of the army.
19 When Hadadezer's vassals saw that Israel had got the better of them, they made peace with Davidand became his subjects. The Aramaeans were unwil ing to give any more help to the Ammonites.	19 Then the servants of Hadadezer, seeing themselves to be overwhelmed by Israel, crossed over to David, and they served him. And Syria was no longer willing to offer aid to the sons of Ammon.