1 E aconteceu, depois disto que Naás, rei dos filhos de Amom, morreu; e seu filho reinou em seu lugar.2 Então disse Davi: Usarei de benevolência com Hanum, filho de Naás, porque seu pai usou de benevolência comigo. Por isso Davi enviou mensageiros para o consolarem acerca de seu pai. E, chegando os servos de Davi à terra dos filhos de Amom, a Hanum, para o consolarem,3 Disseram os príncipes dos filhos de Amom a Hanum: Pensas, porventura, que foi para honrar teu pai aos teus olhos, que Davi te mandou consoladores? Não vieram seus servos a ti, a esquadrinhar, e a transtornar, e a espiar a terra?4 Por isso Hanum tomou os servos de Davi, e raspou-os, e cortou-lhes as vestes no meio até à coxa da perna, e os despediu.5 E foram-se, e avisaram a Davi acerca daqueles homens; e enviou ele mensageiros a encontrá-los; porque aqueles homens estavam sobremaneira envergonhados. Disse, pois, o rei: Deixai-vos ficar em Jericó, até que vos torne a crescer a barba, e então voltai.6 Vendo, pois, os filhos de Amom que se tinham feito odiosos para com Davi, enviou Hanum, e os filhos de Amom, mil talentos de prata para alugarem para si carros e cavaleiros da Mesopotâmia, e da Síria de Maaca, e de Zobá.7 E alugaram para si trinta e dois mil carros, e o rei de Maaca e o seu povo, e eles vieram, e se acamparam diante de Medeba; também os filhos de Amom se ajuntaram das suas cidades, e vieram para a guerra.8 O que ouvindo Davi, enviou Joabe e todo o exército dos homens valentes.9 E, saindo os filhos de Amom, ordenaram a batalha à porta da cidade; porém os reis que vieram se puseram à parte no campo.10 E, vendo Joabe que a batalha estava preparada contra ele, pela frente e pela retaguarda, separou dentre os mais escolhidos de Israel, e os ordenou contra os sírios.11 E o resto do povo entregou na mão de Abisai, seu irmão; e puseram-se em ordem de batalha contra os filhos de Amom.12 E disse: Se os sírios forem mais fortes do que eu, tu virás socorrer-me; e, se os filhos de Amom forem mais fortes do que tu, então eu te socorrerei.13 Esforça-te, e esforcemo-nos pelo nosso povo, e pelas cidades do nosso Deus, e faça o Senhor o que parecer bem aos seus olhos.14 Então se chegou Joabe, e o povo que tinha consigo, diante dos sírios, para a batalha; e fugiram de diante dele.15 Vendo, pois, os filhos de Amom que os sírios fugiram, também eles fugiram de diante de Abisai, seu irmão, e entraram na cidade; e veio Joabe para Jerusalém.16 E, vendo os sírios que foram derrotados diante de Israel, enviaram mensageiros, e fizeram sair os sírios que habitavam do outro lado do rio; e Sofaque, capitão do exército de Hadar-Ezer, marchava diante deles.17 Do que avisado Davi, ajuntou a todo o Israel, e passou o Jordão, e foi ter com eles, e ordenou contra eles a batalha; e, tendo Davi ordenado a batalha contra os sírios, pelejaram contra ele.18 Porém os sírios fugiram de diante de Israel, e feriu Davi, dos sírios, os homens de sete mil carros, e quarenta mil homens de pé; e a Sofaque, capitão do exército, matou.19 Vendo, pois, os servos de Hadar-Ezer que tinham sido feridos diante de Israel, fizeram paz com Davi, e o serviram; e os sírios nunca mais quiseram socorrer os filhos de Amom.

1 And it came to pass after this, that Nachash the king of the children of ‘Ammon died, and his son became king in his stead.2 And David said, I will show kindness unto Chanun the son of Nachash, because his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David came unto the land of the children of ‘Ammon to Chanun, to comfort him.3 And the princes of the children of ‘Ammon said unto Chanun, Doth David honor thy father in thy eyes, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee in order to search out, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?4 Chanun thereupon took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as the hip–bone, and sent them away.5 And some people went and told David concerning these men. And he sent persons to meet them: because the men were greatly ashamed; and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beard be grown, and then return.6 And when the children of ‘Ammon saw that they were become in bad odor with David, Chanun and the children of ‘Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves from Mesopotamia, and from Syria–ma’achah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen.7 And they hired for themselves thirty and two thousand warriors in chariots, and the king of Ma’achah and his people: and they came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of ‘Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and came to the battle.8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army and the mighty men.9 And the children of ‘Ammon came out, and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.10 When now Joab saw that the front of battle was against him before and behind, he made a selection from all the chosen men of Israel, and arrayed himself against the Syrians.11 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abshai his brother, and they arrayed themselves against the children of ‘Ammon.12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then shalt thou bring me help; but if the children of ‘Ammon be too strong for thee, then will I help thee.13 Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves in behalf of our people, and in behalf of the cities of our God, and may the Lord do that which seemeth good in his eyes.14 And Joab drew nigh and the people that were with him in front of the Syrians unto the battle, and they fled from before him.15 And when the children of ‘Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then did they also fly before Abshai his brother, and entered into the city. And Joab went back to Jerusalem.16 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they sent messengers, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the army of Hadar’ezer went before them.17 And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came up with them, and arrayed himself against them. So when David had arrayed himself against the Syrians for battle, they fought with him.18 And the Syrians fled from before Israel: and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand men on foot, and Shophach the captain of the army he put to death.19 And when the vassals of Hadar’ezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: and the Syrians would not help the children of ‘Ammon any more.