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Chapter 19
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1
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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
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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 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
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But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun,
Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he
hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come
unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out
the land? |
4
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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
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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. |
6
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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 Syriamaachah,
and out of Zobah. |
7
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So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, 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 battle. |
8
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And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the
host of the mighty men. |
9
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And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle
in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that
were come were by themselves in the field. |
10
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Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him
before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel,
and put them in array against the Syrians. |
11
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And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand
of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array
against the children of Ammon. |
12
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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. |
13
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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
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So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before
the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. |
15
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And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were
fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and
entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. |
16
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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. |
17
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And it was told 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
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But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of
the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots,
and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain
of the host. |
19
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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. |
