1 Algum tempo depois, Naás, rei dos amonitas, morreu, e seu filho foi o seu sucessor.
2 Davi pensou: "Serei bondoso com Hanum, filho de Naás, porque seu pai foi bondoso comigo". Então Davi enviou uma delegação para transmitir a Hanum seu pesar pela morte do pai. Mas, quando os mensageiros de Davi chegaram à terra dos amonitas para expressar condolências a Hanum,
3 os líderes amonitas lhe disseram: "Achas que Davi está honrando teu pai ao enviar mensageiros para expressar condolências? Não é nada disso! Davi os enviou como espiões para examinar o país e destruí-lo".
4 Então Hanum prendeu os mensageiros de Davi, rapou-lhes a barba, cortou metade de suas roupas até as nádegas, e os mandou embora.
5 Quando Davi soube disso, enviou mensageiros ao encontro deles, pois haviam sido profundamente humilhados, e lhes mandou dizer: "Fiquem em Jericó até que a barba cresça, e então voltem para casa".
6 Vendo Hanum e os amonitas que tinham atraído sobre si o ódio de Davi, alugaram da Mesopotâmia, de Arã Maaca e de Zobá, carros de guerra e condutores de carros, por trinta e cinco toneladas de prata.
7 Alugaram trinta e dois mil carros e seus condutores, e contrataram o rei de Maaca com suas tropas, o qual veio e acampou perto de Medeba, e os amonitas foram convocados de suas cidades e partiram para a batalha.
8 Ao saber disso, Davi ordenou a Joabe que marchasse com todo o exército.
9 Os amonitas saíram e se puseram em posição de combate na entrada da cidade, e os reis que tinham vindo posicionaram-se em campo aberto.
10 Vendo Joabe que estava cercado pelas linhas de combate, escolheu alguns dos melhores soldados de Israel e os posicionou contra os arameus.
11 Pôs o restante dos homens sob o comando de seu irmão Abisai e os posicionou contra os amonitas.
12 E Joabe disse a Abisai: "Se os arameus forem fortes demais para mim, venha me ajudar; mas, se os amonitas forem fortes demais para você, eu irei ajudá-lo.
13 Seja forte e lutemos com bravura pelo nosso povo e pelas cidades do nosso Deus. E que o Senhor faça o que for de sua vontade".
14 Então Joabe e seus soldados avançaram contra os arameus, que fugiram dele.
15 Quando os amonitas viram que os arameus estavam fugindo de Joabe, também fugiram de seu irmão Abisai e entraram na cidade. Assim, Joabe voltou para Jerusalém.
16 Ao perceberem os arameus que haviam sido derrotados por Israel, enviaram mensageiros para trazer arameus que viviam do outro lado do Eufrates, e Sofaque, o comandante do exército de Hadadezer, veio à frente deles.
17 Informado disso, Davi reuniu todo o Israel e atravessou o Jordão; avançou contra eles e formou linhas de combate defronte deles. Mas, começado o combate,
18 eles fugiram de diante de Israel, e Davi matou sete mil dos seus condutores de carros de guerra e quarenta mil dos seus soldados de infantaria. Também matou Sofaque, o comandante do exército deles.
19 Quando os vassalos de Hadadezer viram que tinham sido derrotados por Israel, fizeram a paz com Davi e se sujeitaram a ele. E os arameus não quiseram mais ajudar os amonitas.
1 And it came to pass, after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon died,and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then said DavidI will show lovingkindness unto Hanun, son of Nahash,for his father shewed unto me lovingkindness. So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father,and the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, to console him.
3 Then said the rulers of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun, Doth David honour thy father in thine eyes, that he hath sent to thee comforters? Is it not, for the sake of exploring and overthrowing, and spying out the land, that his servants have come to thee?
4 So Hanun took the servants of David, and shaved them, and cut off their upper garments in the middle, as far as their parts of shame,and let them go.
5 And people went and told David, concerning the men, so he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed,and the king saidTarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown, and then return.
6 And, when the sons of Ammon saw, that they had made themselves odious with David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire for themselvesout of Mesopotamia, and out of Aram-maacah, and out of Zobah,chariots, and horsemen.
7 So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah, and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba,and the sons of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and entered into the war.
8 Now, when David heard, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes.
9 And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for the battle, at the opening of the city,whereas, the kings who had come, were by themselves, in the field.
10 So, when Joab saw that the battle confronted him, before and behind,he chose out of all the choice in Israel, and set in array to meet the Syrians;
11 and, the rest of the people, delivered he into the hand of Abishai his brother,and they set in array, to meet the sons of Ammon.
12 And he saidIf, too strong for me, be the Syrians, then shalt thou come to my help,but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I help thee.
13 Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God,and let, Yahweh, do, what is good in his own eyes.
14 Then did Joab, and all the people who were with him, draw near before the Syrians unto the battle,and they fled from before him.
15 And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled, they also, from before Abishai his brother, and entered the city,and Joab came to Jerusalem.
16 And when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated before Israel, then sent they messengers, and brought out the Syrians who were Beyond the River,with Shophach captain of the army of Hadarezer, before them.
17 And it was told David, and he gathered together all Israel, and crossed the Jordan, and came unto them, and set in array against them,and, when David had set in array against the Syrians for battle, they fought with him.
18 And the Syrians fled from before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen,and, Shophach captain of the army, he put to death.
19 And, when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and served him,neither would the Syrians help the sons of Ammon any more.