1 Chronicles 19
Half a Beard, and a War That Followed
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The Shaming of David’s Envoys
19:1After these things Naas king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son Anan reigned in his place.
19:2David said, “I will show mercy to Anan son of Naas, as his father showed mercy to me.” David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon to comfort him.
19:3The rulers of Ammon said to Anan, “Do you suppose David sent comforters to you to glorify your father before you? Have not his servants come to you so that they might search out the city and spy out the land?”
19:4Anan took David’s servants, shaved them, removed half their cloaks up to the fold, and sent them away.
19:5They came to report to David about the men. He sent to meet them because they had been greatly dishonored. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow, then return.”
Ammon Hires Chariots and Horsemen
19:6The sons of Ammon saw that David’s people had been put to shame. Anan and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen for themselves from Syria of Mesopotamia, Syria of Moocha, and Soba.
19:7They hired thirty-two thousand chariots for themselves, and the king of Mocha and his people. They came and camped opposite Maidaba. The sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came to wage war.
19:8David heard and sent Joab and the whole army of mighty men.
19:9The sons of Ammon came out and arrayed themselves for war beside the city gate. The kings who had come camped by themselves in the plain.
Joab and Abessa Divide the Battle
19:10Joab saw that opponents had come to fight him in front and behind. He selected from all the young men of Israel, and they arrayed themselves against the Syrian.
19:11He placed the remainder of the people in the hand of Abessa his brother, and they arrayed themselves opposite the sons of Ammon.
19:12He said, “If the Syrian prevails over me, you shall be my deliverance; and if the sons of Ammon prevail over you, I will save you.
19:13Act courageously, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His eyes.”
19:14Joab and the people with him arrayed themselves opposite the Syrians for war, and they fled from him.
19:15The sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, and they too fled before Joab and before Abessa his brother and entered the city. Joab came to Jerusalem.
The Syrians Defeated Beyond the River
19:16The Syrian saw that Israel had routed him. He sent messengers, and they brought out the Syrian from beyond the River, with Sophach, chief commander of Adraazar’s force, before them.
19:17David was informed. He gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, came against them, and arrayed himself against them. The Syrian arrayed himself opposite David, and they fought him.
19:18The Syrian fled before David. David killed from the Syrian force seven thousand chariot fighters and forty thousand foot soldiers, and he killed Sophach the chief commander of the force.
19:19Adraazar’s servants saw that they had fallen before Israel. They made a covenant with David and served him, and the Syrian was no longer willing to help the sons of Ammon.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.