2 Samuel 10 (NET)

David and the Ammonites

1 Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him.1 2 David said, “I will express my loyalty2 to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal3 to me.” So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father’s death.4 When David’s servants entered the land of the Ammonites, 3 the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy?5 No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!”6

4 So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved off half of each one’s beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed,7 and then sent them away. 5 Messengers8 told David what had happened,9 so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho10 until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them,11 they12 sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah,13 in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish-tob.14

7 When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.15 8 The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel’s best men and deployed them against the Arameans.16 10 He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army17 and they were deployed18 against the Ammonites. 11 Joab19 said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me,20 you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you,21 I will come to your rescue. 12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The Lord will do what he decides is best!”22

13 So Joab and his men23 marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to24 Jerusalem.25

15 When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces.26 16 Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from27 beyond the Euphrates River,28 and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer’s army, led them.29

17 When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River,30 and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. 18 The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers.31 He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there. 19 When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer32 saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel.33 The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

1tn Heb “reigned in his place.” 2tn Heb “do loyalty.” 3tn Heb “did loyalty.” 4tn Heb “and David sent to console him by the hand of his servants concerning his father.” 5tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?” 6tn Heb “Is it not to explore the city and to spy on it and to overthrow it [that] David has sent his servants to you?” 7tn Heb “and he cut their robes in the middle unto their buttocks.” 8tn Heb “they”; the referent (the messengers) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 9tn The words “what had happened” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons. 10map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1. 11tn Heb “that they were a stench [i.e., disgusting] with David.” 12tn Heb “the Ammonites.” 13tn Or “Arameans of Beth Rehob and Arameans of Zobah.” 14tn Or perhaps “the men of Tob.” The ancient versions (the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and Vulgate) understand the name to be “Ish-tob.” It is possible that “Ish” is dittographic and that we should read simply “Tob,” a reading adopted by a number of recent English versions. 15tn The words “the news” and “to meet them” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification. 16tn Heb “and Joab saw that the face of the battle was to him before and behind and he chose from all the best in Israel and arranged to meet Aram.” 17tn Heb “people.” 18tn Heb “he arranged.” 19tn Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity. 20tn Heb “if Aram is stronger than me.” 21tn Heb “if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you.” 22tn Heb “and the Lord will do what is good in his eyes.” 23tn Heb “and the army which was with him.” 24tn Heb “and Joab returned from against the sons of Ammon and entered.” 25map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4. 26tn Heb “were gathered together.” 27tn Heb “and Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram which is.” 28tn Heb “from beyond the River.” The name “Euphrates” has been supplied in the translation for clarity. 29tn Heb “was before them.” 30tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity. 31tn Heb “horsemen” (so KJV, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT) but the Lucianic recension of the LXX reads “foot soldiers,” as does the parallel text in 1 Chr 19:18. Cf. NAB, NIV. 32tn Heb “the servants of Hadadezer.” 33tn Heb “and they served them.”