1 Chronicles 19

See the Contents of this chapter, 2 Sam.10.

1. And it came to pass after this, that Nahas the King of the children of Ammon died, and his son became King in his stead. [That which is written in this Chapter, is first related, 2 Sam.chap.10. See the further clearing and exposition of dark places there.]

2. Then David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahas, for his Father shewed kindness unto me: therefore David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his Father: When Davids servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3. Then the Princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun; doth David honor thy Father in thine eyes, because he hath sent comforters unto thee? Are not his servants come unto thee, for to search, and to overthrow, and spy out the land? [That is, to waste and destroy the land, after they have passed thorough it, and spied it out.]

4. Wherefore Hanun took the servants of David, and shaved them, [That is, he caused them to be shaved, to wit, their heards half off, or on the side: Thus mocking and abusing Davids Ambassadors. See 2 Sam.chap.10.v.4.] and cut their garments half off, unto the hips, [oth. Buttocks] and let them go.

5. Now they departed, and it was told David of these men: [Oth. And they went and told David by men, etc.] and he sent to meet them; for those men were greatly ashamed: [that is, a great deal of shame an disgrace was put upon them] The King then said, tarry at Jericho, until your beards grown again, then return.

6. When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves stinking before David: then Hanun, and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver, to hire them charets, and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, [Heb. Aram, or, Syria of the two rivers. See the annotate. Gen.24.10.] and out of Syria Maacha, and out of Zeba.

7. So that they hired them two and thirty thousand charets, [This may be understood of so many souldiers, that fought in charets] and the King of Maacha, and his people, they came and camped themselves before Medeba: Also the children of Ammon gathered themselves together out of their cities, and they came to battle.

8. When David heard it, then he sent Joab, and all the host with the champions.

9. When the children of Ammon were came out, then they put the battle in aray before the gate of the city; [To wit, before Medeba, of which city is spoken v.7.But others conceive that they camped themselves before their (own) city Rabba, which was the Metropolis or chief city of the Ammonites, of the siege & taking whereof is spoken below chap.21.] but the Kings that were come, were by themselves in the field.

10. When Joab saw that the fore-front of the battalia was against him before and behind: Then he chose (Some) out of all the chosen (men) of Israel, and he put them in aray against the Syrians.

11. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Absai: [Otherwise called Abasai, 2 Sam.10.10.] and they put them in aray against the children of Ammon.

12. And he said, [To wit, unto Absai] if the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt come to deliver me; [Heb. be for (a) deliverance] and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will deliver thee.

13. Be strong, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: let the LORD now do what is good in his eyes.

14. Then Joab, and the people that were with him, drew nigh to battle before the face of the Syrians? And they [To wit, the Syrians] fled before his face.

15. When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, then they also fled before the face of Absai his brother, and they came into the city, [To wit, into the city of Medeba, which the Amonites were possessed of at this time] and Joab came to Jerusalem.

16. When the Syrians saw, that they were smitten before the face of Israel, then they sent messengers, and brought forth the Syrians that dwelt on the other side of the River: [Understand here the River Euphrates] and Sophach [he is called Sobach, 2 Sam.10.16.] Hadarezers [see above chapter 18.vers.5.] chief Captain, (marched) before their face.

17. When it was told David, then they gathered all Israel, and passed over the Jordan, and he came to them, and he put the battle in aray against them: when David had put the battle in aray against the Syrians, then they fought with him.

18. Put the Syrians fled before the face of Israel, and David smote of the Syrians seven thousand charets, [See the annotate. On 2 Sam.chap.10.v.18.] and fourty thousand footmen: Moreover he slew Sophach the commander in chief.

19. When Hadarezers servants saw that they were smitten before the face of Israel, then they made peace with David, and served him: [That is, they became subject to him, and payed him tribute.] and the Syrians would not deliver the children of Ammon any more.