Common English Bible CEB
English Standard Version ESV
1 Some time later, the Ammonite King Nahash died, and his son succeeded him as king.
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Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place.
2 "I'll be loyal to Nahash's son Hanun," David said, "because his father was loyal to me." So David sent messengers with condolences about his father's death. But when David's servants arrived in the Ammonite territory to express his sympathy to Hanun,
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And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me. ” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him.
3 the Ammonite leaders asked Hanun, "Do you really believe David is honoring your father because he has sent you condolences? Of course not! His servants have come to search the city, spy it out, and overthrow it!"
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But 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? ”
4 So Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut off half their garments from their buttocks down, and sent them off.
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So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away;
5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to the men because they were completely ashamed. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown. Then you can come back."
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and 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. ”
6 When the Ammonites realized that they had offended David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent one thousand kikkars of silver to hire chariots and cavalry for themselves from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.
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When 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.
7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots, as well as King Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba, while the Ammonites left their cities and came together ready for battle.
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They 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.
8 When David heard this, he sent Joab and the entire army of warriors.
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When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
9 The Ammonites marched out and formed a battle line at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come remained in the countryside.
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And 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.
10 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel's finest warriors and deployed them to meet the Arameans.
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When 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.
11 The rest of the army Joab placed under the command of his brother Abishai. When they took up their positions to meet the Arameans,
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The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.
12 Joab said, "If the Arameans prove too strong for me, you must help me, and if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I'll help you.
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And 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.
13 Be brave! We must be courageous for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his eyes."
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Be 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. ”
14 When Joab and the troops who were with him advanced into battle against the Arameans, they fled from him.
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So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.
15 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from his brother Abishai and retreated into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.
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And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 The Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel. They sent out messengers to bring Aramean reinforcements from the other side of the river, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army at their head.
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But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
17 Upon hearing this, David gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. David advanced and took up positions against the Arameans to meet them in battle. After initiating the battle,
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And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces against them. And when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
18 the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand Aramean chariot drivers and forty thousand foot soldiers. Shophach the commander of their army was killed too.
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And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of ,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army.
19 When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Never again would the Arameans come to the aid of the Ammonites.
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And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025