David Conquers Ammon and Syria
1 Chronicles 19, verse 1. It happened after this that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 2. Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 3. And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 1 Chronicles 19, verse 4. Therefore, Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, removed the half of their garments as far as their tunic, and sent them away. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 5. Then some reported to David about these men, and he sent someone to meet them, for these men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.” 1 Chronicles 19, verse 6. When the sons of Ammon saw that the people of David had been shamed, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 7. So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 8. Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 9. Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 10. When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel's best, and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 11. And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 12. Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 13. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And the Lord will do what is good in His sight.” 1 Chronicles 19, verse 14. So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 15. When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 16. Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river, and Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army went before them. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 17. When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came upon them. He set up in battle array against them, and the Syrians fought against him. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 18. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand riders of chariots and forty thousand Syrian foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the commander of the army. 1 Chronicles 19, verse 19. And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had fallen before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were no longer willing to help the people of Ammon.