2
And David said, I shall do mercy with Hanun, the son of Nahash; for his father gave mercy to me. And David sent messengers, to comfort him on the death of his father. And when they were come into the land of the sons of Ammon, for to comfort Hanun (And when they were come into the land of the Ammonites, to comfort Hanun),
3
the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, In hap thou guessest, that David, for cause of honour into thy father, sent men, that should comfort thee; and thou perceivest not, that his servants be come to thee to espy, and inquire, and to seek (through) thy land. (the princes of the Ammonites/the leaders of the Ammonites said to Hanun, Perhaps thou guessest that David, in honour of thy father, sent these men to comfort thee; and thou perceivest not, that his servants came to thee to spy, and to inquire, and to search out thy land.)
4
Therefore Hanun made bald and shaved the servants of David, and cutted the coats off them from the buttocks of them till to the feet; and let go them (and then he let them go).
5
And when they had gone forth, and had sent this to David, he sent into the meeting of them; for they had suffered great despite; and he commanded, that they should dwell in Jericho, till their beard(s) waxed, and then they should turn again. (And when they had gone forth, and had sent word about this to David, he sent a message to them; for they had suffered great despising, or great shame; and he commanded, that they should live in Jericho, until their beards grew again, and then they could return home.)
6
And the sons of Ammon saw, that they had done wrong to David, both Hanun and the other people, and they sent a thousand talents of silver, for to hire to them chariots and horsemen of Mesopotamia, and of Syria, of Maachah, and of Zobah; (And when the Ammonites saw that they had wronged David, Hanun and the other people sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, and Syriamaachah, and Zobah;)
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and they hired to them two and thirty thousand of chariots, and the king of Maachah with his people. And when they were come, they set their tents even against Medeba; and the sons of Ammon were gathered together from their cities, and came to battle. (and they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah with his people. And when they were come, they pitched their tents opposite, or near, Medeba; and the Ammonites were gathered together from their cities, and came to do battle.)
8
And when David heard this, he sent Joab, and all the host of strong men. (And when David heard of this, he sent Joab, and all his army of strong men.)
9
And the sons of Ammon went out, and dressed battle array beside the gate of the city; but the kings, that were come to help them, stood asides-half in the field. (And the Ammonites went out, and directed the battle array beside the gate of the city; and the kings, who had come to help them, stood half-aside in the field.)
10
Therefore Joab understood, that [the] battle was made against him even against and behind his back, and he chose the strongest men of all Israel, and went against (the) Syrians; (And so Joab understood, that the battle was made against him both in front, and behind his back, and he chose the strongest men out of all Israel, and went out against the Syrians;)
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soothly he gave the residue part of the people under the hand of Abishai, his brother; and they went forth against the sons of Ammon. (and he left the rest of the people under the hand, or the power, of his brother Abishai; and then they went forth against the Ammonites.)
12
And Joab said, If Syrians shall overcome me, thou shalt help me; and if the sons of Ammon shall overcome thee, I shall help thee; (And Joab said, If the Syrians overcome me, thou shalt help me; and if the Ammonites overcome thee, I shall help thee;)