1 Chronicles 19:3-14
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 19
3But the commanders among the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, 'Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have his servants not come to you to search, to demolish, and to spy out the land?' 4So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their robes in the middle as far as their buttocks, and sent them away. 5Then certain people went and told David about the men. And he sent messengers to meet them, because the men were very humiliated. And the king said, 'Stay at Jericho until your beards grow back, then return.'
6When the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
7So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped opposite Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to the battle.
8When David heard about it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.
9The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him at the front and at the rear, he selected warriors from all the choice men in Israel and lined them up against the Arameans.
11But the remainder of the people he placed under the command of Abshai his brother; and they lined up against the sons of Ammon.
12He said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
13Be strong, and let’s show ourselves courageous for the benefit of our people and the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.'
14So Joab and the people who were with him advanced to battle against the Arameans, and they fled from him.
King James Version
Chapter 19
3But 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? 4Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. 5Then 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.
6And 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.
7So 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.
8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
9And 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.
10Now 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.
11And 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.
12And 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.
13Be 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.
14So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 19
3the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, "Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, haven’t his emissaries come in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land?" 4So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.
6When the Ammonites realized they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent thirty-eight tons of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonites also came together from their cities for the battle.
8David heard about this and sent Joab and all the elite troops.
9The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city while the kings who had come were in the field by themselves.
10When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some of Israel’s finest young men and lined up in formation to engage the Arameans.
11He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai. They lined up in formation to engage the Ammonites.
New Living Translation
Chapter 19
3the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, 'Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the land so they can come in and conquer it!' 4So Hanun seized David’s ambassadors and shaved them, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame.
6When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
7They also hired 32,000 chariots and secured the support of the king of Maacah and his army. These forces camped at Medeba, where they were joined by the Ammonite troops that Hanun had recruited from his own towns.
8When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all his warriors to fight them.
9The Ammonite troops came out and drew up their battle lines at the entrance of the city, while the other kings positioned themselves to fight in the open fields.
10When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields.
11He left the rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai, who was to attack the Ammonites.
12If the Arameans are too strong for me, then come over and help me,' Joab told his brother. 'And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.
13Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 19
3But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, "Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?" 4So Hanun took David 's servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; 5and they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return."
6When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah.
7They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle.
8When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
9And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
10When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.
11The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.
12And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you.
13Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him."
14So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.
New International Version
Chapter 19
3the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?" 4So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
6When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah and Zobah.
7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.
8On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men.
9The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
10Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.
11He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites.
12Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you.
13Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight."
New King James Version
4Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.
5Then some went and told David about the men; and he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah.
7So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities, and came to battle.
8Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
9Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians.
11And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon.
12Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
13Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”
