2
And Davidsaid, I will shewkindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his fathershewedkindness to me. And Davidsentmessengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of Davidcame into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
3
But the princes of the children of Ammonsaid to Hanun,Thinkest[a] thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sentcomforters unto thee? are not his servantscome unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
4
Wherefore HanuntookDavid'sservants, 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 toldDavid how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatlyashamed. And the kingsaid, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6
And when the children of Ammonsaw that they had made themselves odious[b] to David,Hanun and the children of Ammonsent a thousandtalents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah*, and out of Zobah.
7
So they hiredthirty and twothousandchariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitchedbeforeMedeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8
And when Davidheard of it, he sentJoab, 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 Joabsaw that the battle[c] was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in arrayagainst the Syrians.
11
And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai[d] his brother, and they set themselves in arrayagainst 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.
The eighteenth and nineteenth chapters are the same with 2Sa 8:1-10:19, 20:1-26 with very little variations, which are observed in the notes on them, to which the reader is referred. 18867-950102-2024-1Ch19.2