1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. 5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6 ¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. 7 And when David heard of it , he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. 11 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 come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 ¶ And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. 19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
Amoniešu un sīriešu sakāve
(1L 19:1–19)1 Pēc kāda laika nomira amoniešu ķēniņš, un pēc tam sāka valdīt viņa dēls Hānūns. 2 Dāvids domāja: “Izrādīšu laipnību Nāhāša dēlam Hānūnam, jo viņa tēvs bija vēlīgs man.” Un Dāvids sūtīja savus kalpus izteikt viņam līdzjūtību par tēvu. Kad Dāvida kalpi nonāca amoniešu zemē, 3 amoniešu augstmaņi teica savam kungam Hānūnam: “Vai tu domā, ka Dāvids sūtījis pie tevis mierinātājus aiz cieņas pret tavu tēvu? Vai tik viņš nav sūtījis pie tevis savus kalpus, lai izpētītu, izlūkotu un izspiegotu pilsētu?!” 4 Tad Hānūns saņēma Dāvida kalpus, noskuva tiem pusi bārdas, nogrieza apģērbu līdz gurniem un aizraidīja viņus prom. 5 To pastāstīja Dāvidam, un viņš sūtīja tiem pretī, jo šie vīri bija ļoti pazemoti. Ķēniņš sacīja: “Palieciet Jērikā, līdz jums ataug bārda, tad varat nākt atpakaļ.” 6 Kad amonieši redzēja, ka Dāvids viņus uzskata par smerdeļiem, tie sūtīja nolīgt Bēt-Rehobas un Cobas aramiešus – divdesmit tūkstošus kājnieku, kā arī Maahas ķēniņu ar tūkstoš vīriem un Tobas vīrus – divpadsmit tūkstošus. 7 Kad Dāvids to uzzināja, viņš sūtīja Joābu un visu spēkavīru pulku. 8 Amonieši iznāca pie pilsētas vārtiem un izvietojās kaujai, bet Cobas un Rehobas aramieši, kā arī Tobas un Maahas vīri stāvēja nomaļus. 9 Kad Joābs redzēja, ka pret viņu ir nostājušies kaujai gan no priekšpuses, gan aizmugures, viņš izvēlējās labākos Israēla vīrus un izvietoja pret Arāmu. 10 Pārējos ļaudis viņš nodeva savam brālim Abīšajam, un viņš tos izvietoja pret amoniešiem. 11 Joābs sacīja: “Ja aramieši būs stiprāki par mani, tad tu nāc man palīgā, bet, ja amonieši būs stiprāki par tevi, es iešu palīgā tev! 12 Esi stiprs, un būsim stipri savu ļaužu un mūsu Dieva pilsētu dēļ! Kungs darīs, kā viņam šķiet labi!” 13 Joābs ar saviem ļaudīm devās uzbrukumā aramiešiem, un tie bēga no viņa. 14 Kad amonieši ieraudzīja, ka aramieši bēg, tad arī viņi metās bēgt no Abīšaja un iebēga pilsētā. Tad Joābs pārtrauca kauju ar amoniešiem un devās uz Jeruzālemi. 15 Aramieši, redzēdami, ka Israēls viņus sakāvis, sapulcējās vienuviet. 16 Hadadezers sūtīja ataicināt tos aramiešus, kas viņpus upei, un tie atnāca uz Hēlāmu ar Hadadezera karaspēka virspavēlnieku Šobahu priekšgalā.
17 To pastāstīja Dāvidam. Viņš sapulcināja visu Israēlu, pārgāja Jardānai un nonāca Hēlāmā. Aramieši izvietojās pretī Dāvidam un cīnījās ar viņu. 18 Aramieši bēga no Israēla, un Dāvids nokāva aramiešiem septiņus simtus kararatu braucēju un četrdesmit tūkstošus jātnieku. Viņš notrieca Šobahu, viņu karaspēka virspavēlnieku, un tas turpat nomira. 19 Kad visi ķēniņi, Hadadezera kalpi, redzēja, ka Israēls tos sakāvis, tie slēdza mieru ar Israēlu un kalpoja tam. Turpmāk aramieši baidījās palīdzēt amoniešiem.
