1 Quando Naás, rei dos amonitas, morreu, seu filho Hanum subiu ao trono.2 Então David declarou: Vou mostrar boa vontade para com Hanum, por causa da amizade que seu pai revelou para comigo.3 Mas ao chegarem os embaixadores de David, os conselheiros de Hanum começaram a preveni-lo: Não te convenças que David mandou esta gente por consideração para com o teu pai! Eles vieram mas foi para espiar a terra, a fim de a conquistar!4 Então Hanum mandou rapar a barba dos embaixadores e cortar-lhes a roupa que traziam até à altura das ancas, o que representava, isso tudo, um insulto. Depois mandou-os embora, no meio de grande vergonha. Ouvindo o que aconteceu, David mandou uma mensagem aos seus enviados, dizendo-lhes para ficarem em Jericó até lhes crescer a barba de novo. Por seu lado Hanum, reconhecendo que tinha feito mal, mandou estipular, do tesouro do seu reino, uma soma de trinta e quatro toneladas de prata para comprar tropas mercenárias, cavalos de guerra e cavaleiros da Mesopotâmia, da Síria, de Maaca e de Zobá. Também alugou trinta e dois mil carros de guerra, bem como o próprio apoio do rei de Maaca, mais todo o seu exército. Estas tropas todas acamparam em Medeba, onde se lhes juntaram as tropas que Hanum recrutou das suas próprias cidades.8 Perante isto, David mandou contra eles Joabe, comandando os mais valentes guerreiros de Israel. O exército dos amonitas saiu-lhes ao encontro e começou o combate às portas da cidade de Medeba. Entretanto as forças mercenárias aproximaram-se do campo de batalha. Joabe deu-se conta de que tinha inimigos à frente e atrás; dividiu então a sua gente a mandou um grupo atacar os sírios. Outro grupo, sob o comando do seu irmão Abisai, dirigiu-se contra os amonitas.12 Se os sírios forem mais fortes do que eu, vem ajudar-me, disse Joabe ao irmão; se os amonitas prevalecerem sobre ti, vou eu ajudar-te. Coragem, e actuemos como homens que defendem o povo e as cidades do nosso Deus. E que o Senhor faça o que for melhor.14 Joabe e os seus homens atacaram os sírios e estes fugiram. Os amonitas, que estavam sob o ataque das tropas de Abisai, viram os sírios a bater em retirada, e escaparam-se para dentro da cidade. E Joabe regressou a Jerusalém.16 Depois desta derrota, os sírios mandaram vir mais tropas, do oriente do rio Eufrates, conduzidas por Sofaque em pessoa, que era o chefe do exército do rei Hadadezer.17 Tendo tido conhecimento disto, David mobilizou todo o Israel, atravessou o rio Jordão e ordenou batalha contra as tropas inimigas. Mas os sírios fugiram novamente de David, e este matou sete mil condutores de carros de combate e quarenta mil soldados. Sofaque, o comandante general das tropas sírias, também foi morto. As tropas do rei Hadadezer renderam-se ao rei David e ficaram-lhe sujeitas. Nunca mais os sírios ajudaram os amonitas em guerras.

1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.2 And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters to thee? are not his servants come to thee to search, and to overthrow, and to explore the land?4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.5 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 are grown, and then return.6 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.7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon assembled from their cities, and came to battle.8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that had come were by themselves in the field.10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he selected all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.11 And the rest of the people he delivered to the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.12 And he said, If the Syrians shall be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon shall be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians to the battle; and they fled before him.15 And when 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.16 And when the Syrians saw that they were defeated 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.17 And it was told to David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon 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.18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.