2 Samuel, 10

1. And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

1. When the king of the Ammonites died and Hanun his son reigned in his place,

2. Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

2. David said, "I will be kind to Hanun son of Nahash as his father was kind to me." So David sent his servants to comfort him over his father's death. When David's servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3. And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

3. the Ammonite chiefs told Hanun their lord, "Do you think that, by sending men with condolences, David is honoring your father? Has not David rather sent his servants to you to explore the city, spy on it and overthrow it?"

4. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.

4. At this, Hanun seized David's servants, shaved off half their beard, cut away the lower halves of their garments even up to their hips and sent them away.

5. When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

5. When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet these men who felt greatly ashamed and to tell them, "Stay in Jericho and return after your beards have grown."

6. And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

6. The Ammonites saw that David could no longer bear with them, so they sent for and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and of Zobah numbering twenty thousand foot soldiers, the king of Maacah with one thousand men and also twelve thousand men of Tob.

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

7. On hearing this, David sent out Joab with all the warriors.

8. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.

8. The Ammonites came out in battle formation at the entrance gate while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah grouped separately in the open country.

9. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians:

9. When Joab saw that there were two battlefronts, one in front of him and the other behind, he selected picked men of Israel and arranged them in battle formation against the Syrians.

10. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put [them] in array against the children of Ammon.

10. Then he entrusted the rest of his army to Abishai his brother and arranged them in battle formation against the Ammonites.

11. 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 come and help thee.

11. And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come to your assistance.

12. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

12. Take courage! Let us act like men for the sake of our people and God's cities; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him."

13. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

13. Joab and the people who were with him launched the attack against the Arameans and put them to flight.

14. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

14. When the Ammonites saw the Arameans fleeing, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from his battle against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

15. When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.

16. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

16. Hadadezer sent for the Syrians and had them brought from beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam with Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, leading them.

17. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

17. This was reported to David who, in turn, gathered together all Israel and came to Helam after crossing the Jordan. The Arameans then arranged themselves in battle formation and fought against David,

18. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

18. but they fled before Israel. David had seven hundred of the men in chariots and forty thousand horsemen killed. Shobach, too, the commander of their army was slain and died there.

19. And when all the kings [that were] servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

19. After having been defeated by Israel, all the kings who depended on Hadadezer made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans no longer dared to help the Ammonites.