1 GLT And it happened after thus, and the king of the sons of Ammon died. And Hanun his son was king in his place. BSB BSB: Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.
2 GLT And David said,“I will do kindness with Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father did kindness with me.” And David sent in order to comfort him by the hand of his servants concerning his father. And the servants of David came{ to} the land of the sons of Ammon. BSB BSB: And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,
3 GLT And the captains of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord,“{ Is} David honoring your father in your eyes because he sent comforters to you? Is it not for the sake of exploring the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it{ that} David has sent his servants to you?” BSB BSB: the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”
4 GLT And Hanun took the servants of David, and he shaved half of their beards, and he cut their robes in half up to their buttocks. And he sent them away. BSB BSB: So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.
5 GLT And they informed David, and he sent to call them, because the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said,“Live in Jericho until your beard grows, and you will return.” BSB BSB: When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
6 GLT And the sons of Ammon saw that they were made to stink to David. And the sons of Ammon sent, and they hired Aram of Beth- Rehob, and Aram of Zoba{ with} 20, 000 footmen, and the king of Maacah{ with} 1, 000 men, and the men of Tob{ with} 12, 000 men. BSB BSB: When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.
7 GLT And David heard, and he sent Joab and the entire army, the mighty people. BSB BSB: On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.
8 GLT And the sons of Ammon went out and they arranged{ for} war{ at} the opening of the gate. And Aram of Zoba and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah{ were} alone in the field. BSB BSB: The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
9 GLT And Joab saw that the face of the war was against him, from before the faces and from behind, and he chose from the entire chosen ones of Israel, and he arranged{ them} to meet Aram. BSB BSB: When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.
10 GLT And the remainder of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother. And he arranged{ them} to meet the sons of Ammon. BSB BSB: And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.
11 GLT And he said,“If Aram is too strong for me, then you will become deliverance for me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will go to provide deliverance for you. BSB BSB: “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.
12 GLT Be strong, and let us be strong for the benefit of our people and for the benefit of the cities of our God. And Yahweh will do what is good in his eyes.” BSB BSB: Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
13 GLT And Joab and the people who{ were} with him approached the war against Aram, and they fled from before his face. BSB BSB: So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.
14 GLT And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram fled, and they fled from before the face of Abishai, and they entered the city. And Joab returned away from the sons of Ammon, and he entered Jerusalem. BSB BSB: When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15 GLT And Aram saw that he was struck to the face of Israel, and they assembled together. BSB BSB: When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.
16 GLT And Hadadezer sent, and he brought out Aram, who{ was} from beyond the River, and they came{ to} Helam. And Shobak the captain of the army of Hadadezer{ was} to their faces. BSB BSB: Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
17 GLT And it was declared to David, and he assembled all Israel, and he crossed the Jordan, and he came to Helam. And Aram arranged to meet David, and they fought with him. BSB BSB: When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.
18 GLT And Aram fled from the face of Israel, and David killed from Aram 700 chariots and 40, 000 horsemen, and he struck Shobak the captain of his army, and he died there. BSB BSB: But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.
19 GLT And all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were struck to the face of Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and they served them. And Aram was afraid to deliver the sons of Ammon anymore. BSB BSB: When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.