1 Chronicles 19

NOw it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died Of all the Contents of this Chapter see the Notes on 2 Sam. 10. where we have the same things and almost the very same words., and his son reigned in his stead.

And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to com... ort him concerning his father: so the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon, to Hanun, to comfort him.

But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David does honour thy father that he has sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spie out the land?

Wherefore Hanun took Davids servants, and shaved them, and cut off their Garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them (for the men were greatly ashamed) and the king said, tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah.

So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots i. e. 32000 Men fighting from or with Chariots, as that word is elsewhere used: of which see my Notes on 1 Sam. 13. 5. And this Interpretation seems the more probable by comparing this place with 2 Sam. 10. 6. where this Army is said to consist of 2000... footmen, and 12000 men of Ishtob; which make up these 32000 men, who fought partly from Chariots, and partly on Foot with Chariots or attending upon the Chariots, as the Ancient Manner of fighting was. And here v. 6. this Army it made up of Chariots and Horsemen; where, except the chariots be understood, there were no Footmen in the Army, which is unusual and incredible., and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battel.

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battel in aray before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come, were by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw that the battel was set against him, before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in aray against the Assyrians.

And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in aray against the children of Ammon.

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.

Be of good courage, and let us behave our selves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

So Joab and the people that were with him, drew nigh before the Syrians, unto the battel; and they fled before him.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entred into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach, the captain of the host of Hadarezer, went before them.

And it was told David, and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battel in aray against them, so when David had put the battel in aray against the Syrians, they fought with him.

But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men, which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen How this agrees with 2 Sam. 10. 18. see in the Notes on that place., and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.