1 Chronicles 19: David's messengers are shamed, and the war with Ammon and the Syrians
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What happens?
When Nahash king of Ammon dies, David sends messengers to comfort his son Hanun, but Hanun's princes say they have come to spy, and Hanun shaves David's servants and cuts off their garments. Ammon hires chariots and horsemen, and Joab and his brother Abishai divide the army to meet Ammon and the Syrians, who flee. The Syrians gather again beyond the River, David crosses the Jordan and defeats them, and they make peace with David and will not help Ammon any more.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. David speaks in verses 2 and 5, the princes of Ammon speak to Hanun in verse 3, and Joab speaks to Abishai in verses 12 and 13. Verse 13 ends with Joab's wish that Yahweh do what seems good to him, which is Joab's words, not Yahweh's. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1After this, Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: After this, Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.
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2David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him.
In plain English: David said, "I will show kindness (or: loyalty) to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to comfort him about his father. David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon to comfort him.
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3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Haven’t his servants come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?”
In plain English: The princes (or: officials) of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Have his servants not come to you to search the land, to overthrow it and to spy it out?"
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4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
In plain English: So Hanun took David's servants and shaved them. He cut off their robes in the middle, up to their buttocks, and sent them away.
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5Then some people went and told David how the men were treated. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
In plain English: Some people went and told David about the men. He sent to meet them, because the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return."
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6When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah.
In plain English: The sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David. Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim (this Bible: Mesopotamia), from Aram Maacah and from Zobah.
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7So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah with his people, who came and encamped near Medeba. The children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
In plain English: They hired thirty-two thousand chariots for themselves, and the king of Maacah with his people. They came and camped before Medeba. The sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came for battle.
Good to know: tells the hiring differently: the sons of Ammon "hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men". This verse has thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his people. The text does not explain the difference.
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8When David heard of it, he sent Joab with all the army of the mighty men.
In plain English: David heard of it and sent Joab with all the army of the mighty men.
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9The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
In plain English: The sons of Ammon came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of the city. The kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
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10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose some of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
In plain English: Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind. He chose from all the chosen men of Israel and lined them up to meet the Syrians (or: Arameans).
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11The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
In plain English: He put the rest of the people in the hand of Abishai his brother, and they lined up to meet the sons of Ammon.
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12He said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.
In plain English: He said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, you will be my rescue. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, I will rescue you.
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13Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do that which seems good to him.”
In plain English: Be strong, and let us show ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do what is good in his eyes."
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14So Joab and the people who were with him came near to the front of the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.
In plain English: Joab and the people with him drew near the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.
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15When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
In plain English: When the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and they went into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
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16When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and called out the Syrians who were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer leading them.
In plain English: The Syrians saw that they had been defeated before Israel. They sent messengers and brought out the Syrians from beyond the river, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army at their head.
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17David was told that, so he gathered all Israel together, passed over the Jordan, came to them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
In plain English: It was told to David. He gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, came to them and lined up against them. David lined up to meet the Syrians, and they fought with him.
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18The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrian men seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand footmen, and also killed Shophach the captain of the army.
In plain English: The Syrians fled before Israel. David killed seven thousand Syrian charioteers and forty thousand men on foot, and he also killed Shophach the commander of the army.
Good to know: says David "killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen", and names the commander "Shobach". This verse has seven thousand charioteers, forty thousand men on foot, and "Shophach". The text does not explain the differences.
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19When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. The Syrians would not help the children of Ammon any more.
In plain English: The servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated before Israel. They made peace with David and served him. The Syrians were not willing to rescue the sons of Ammon any more.
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