English Bible Presentation Sharing - 2-Samuel Book, chapter 10, verse 46 in Erven Version

2 Samuel 10 : 1 (ERVEN)

Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became the new king after him.

2 Samuel 10 : 2 (ERVEN)

David said, "Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son Hanun." So David sent his officers to comfort Hanun about his father's death. David's officers went to the land of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 10 : 3 (ERVEN)

But the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, their lord, "Do you think that David is trying to honor your father by sending some men to comfort you? No, David sent these men to spy on your city. They plan to make war against you."

2 Samuel 10 : 4 (ERVEN)

So Hanun took David's officers and shaved off one half of their beards. He cut off their clothes at the hips. Then he sent them away.

2 Samuel 10 : 5 (ERVEN)

When the people told David, he sent messengers to meet his officers. He did this because these men were very ashamed. King David said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards grow again. Then come back home."

2 Samuel 10 : 6 (ERVEN)

The Ammonites saw that they had become David's enemies, so they hired Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah. There were 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers. The Ammonites also hired the king of Maacah with 1000 men and 12,000 men from Tob.

2 Samuel 10 : 7 (ERVEN)

David heard about this, so he sent Joab and the whole army of powerful men.

2 Samuel 10 : 8 (ERVEN)

The Ammonites came out and got ready for the battle. They stood at the city gate. The Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah did not stand together with the Ammonites in the field.

2 Samuel 10 : 9 (ERVEN)

Joab saw that there were enemies in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of the best Israelite soldiers and lined them up for battle against the Arameans.

2 Samuel 10 : 10 (ERVEN)

Then Joab gave the other men to his brother Abishai to lead against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 10 : 11 (ERVEN)

Joab said to Abishai, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, you will help me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.

2 Samuel 10 : 12 (ERVEN)

Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he decides is right."

2 Samuel 10 : 13 (ERVEN)

Then Joab and his men attacked the Arameans. The Arameans ran away from Joab and his men.

2 Samuel 10 : 14 (ERVEN)

The Ammonites saw that the Arameans were running away, so they ran away from Abishai and went back to their city. So Joab came back from the battle with the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 10 : 15 (ERVEN)

When the Arameans saw that the Israelites had defeated them, they came together into one big army.

2 Samuel 10 : 16 (ERVEN)

Hadadezer sent messengers to bring the Arameans who lived on the other side of the Euphrates River. These Arameans came to Helam. Their leader was Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer's army.

2 Samuel 10 : 17 (ERVEN)

When David heard about this, he gathered all of the Israelites together. They crossed over the Jordan River and went to Helam. There the Arameans prepared for battle and attacked,

2 Samuel 10 : 18 (ERVEN)

but David defeated them, and they ran from the Israelites. David killed 700 chariot drivers and 40,000 horse soldiers as well as Shobach, the captain of the Aramean army.

2 Samuel 10 : 19 (ERVEN)

The kings who served Hadadezer saw that the Israelites had defeated them, so they made peace with the Israelites and became their servants. The Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites again.