1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because 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 stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it , he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 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 come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 ¶ And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
1 factum est autem post haec ut moreretur rex filiorum Ammon
et regnaret Anon filius eius pro eo
2 dixitque David faciam misericordiam cum Anon filio Naas
sicut fecit pater eius mecum misericordiam
misit ergo David consolans eum per servos suos
super patris interitu
cum autem venissent servi David in terram filiorum Ammon
3 dixerunt principes filiorum Ammon ad Anon dominum suum
putas quod propter honorem patris tui David miserit ad te
consolatores
et non ideo ut investigaret et exploraret civitatem et everteret eam
misit David servos suos ad te
4 tulit itaque Anon servos David
rasitque dimidiam partem barbae eorum
et praecidit vestes eorum medias usque ad nates
et dimisit eos
5 quod cum nuntiatum esset David misit in occursum eorum
erant enim viri confusi turpiter valde
et mandavit eis David
manete Hiericho donec crescat barba vestra et tunc
revertimini
6 videntes autem filii Ammon quod iniuriam fecissent David
miserunt et conduxerunt mercede Syrum Roob et Syrum Soba
viginti milia peditum
et a rege Maacha mille viros
et ab Histob duodecim milia virorum
7 quod cum audisset David misit Ioab et omnem exercitum bellatorum
8 egressi sunt ergo filii Ammon
et direxerunt aciem ante ipsum introitum portae
Syrus autem Soba et Roob et Histob et Maacha
seorsum erant in campo
9 videns igitur Ioab quod praeparatum esset adversum se proelium
et ex adverso et post tergum
elegit ex omnibus electis Israhel
et instruxit aciem contra Syrum
10 reliquam autem partem populi tradidit Abisai fratri suo
qui direxit aciem adversum filios Ammon
11 et ait Ioab si praevaluerint adversum me Syri eris mihi in adiutorium
si autem filii Ammon praevaluerint adversum te auxiliabor tibi
12 esto vir fortis
et pugnemus pro populo nostro et civitate Dei nostri
Dominus autem faciet quod bonum est in conspectu suo
13 iniit itaque Ioab et populus qui erat cum eo certamen contra Syros
qui statim fugerunt a facie eius
14 filii autem Ammon videntes quod fugissent Syri
fugerunt et ipsi a facie Abisai et ingressi sunt civitatem
reversusque est Ioab a filiis Ammon et venit Hierusalem
15 videntes igitur Syri quoniam corruissent coram Israhel
congregati sunt pariter
16 misitque Adadezer et eduxit Syros qui erant trans Fluvium
et adduxit exercitum eorum
Sobach autem magister militiae Adadezer erat princeps eorum
17 quod cum nuntiatum esset David
contraxit omnem Israhelem et transivit Iordanem
venitque in Helema
et direxerunt aciem Syri ex adverso David
et pugnaverunt contra eum
18 fugeruntque Syri a facie Israhel
et occidit David de Syris septingentos currus
et quadraginta milia equitum
et Sobach principem militiae percussit qui statim mortuus est
19 videntes autem universi reges qui erant in praesidio Adadezer
victos se ab Israhel
fecerunt pacem cum Israhel et servierunt eis
timueruntque Syri auxilium praebere filiis Ammon