1 Chronicles 19

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 19

1¶ Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

4Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

5Then there went [certain], and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for 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 had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

7So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

8And when David heard [of it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

9And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come [were] by themselves in the field.

10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians.

11And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set [themselves] in array against the children of Ammon.

12And 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 help thee.

13Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do [that which is] good in his sight.

14So Joab and the people that [were] with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

15And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

17And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set [the battle] in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

18But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand [men which fought in] chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

19And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King David sent messengers to comfort Hanun, the new king of Ammon, upon his father's death. However, Hanun, misled by his princes, humiliated David's envoys by shaving their beards and cutting their garments. This insult provoked a war, in which David's forces, led by Joab and later David himself, decisively defeated the Ammonites and their Syrian allies, leading the Syrians to make peace with Israel.

Medium Summary

After Nahash, King of Ammon, died, David sent messengers to his son Hanun to offer comfort, recalling Nahash's kindness to him. Misguided by his advisors, Hanun suspected the messengers were spies and severely humiliated them by shaving half their beards and cutting their garments. Upon hearing of this affront, David instructed his shamed servants to remain in Jericho until their beards regrew. Recognizing their offense, the Ammonites hired a vast mercenary army of chariots and horsemen from various Syrian kingdoms. David dispatched Joab with Israel's mighty men, who strategically divided his forces to confront both the Ammonites and their Syrian allies. Joab exhorted his soldiers to fight valiantly for their people and God's cities, trusting in divine will. The Syrians fled before Joab, causing the Ammonites to retreat into their city. Subsequently, the Syrians beyond the river reinforced their forces, prompting David to personally lead all Israel to a second decisive victory, slaying many and causing Hadarezer's servants to make peace with Israel.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the death of Nahash, King of the children of Ammon, and the succession of his son, Hanun. King David, remembering Nahash's past kindness, extended a gesture of goodwill by sending messengers to comfort Hanun in his time of mourning. However, the princes of the Ammonites instilled suspicion in Hanun, convincing him that David's envoys were not comforters but rather spies sent to survey and overthrow their land. Consequently, Hanun committed a grave act of disrespect: he seized David's servants, shaved off half their beards, and cut their garments in the middle, near their buttocks, before sending them away in utter shame. When David was informed of this profound humiliation, he sent word for his men to tarry at Jericho until their beards had grown, acknowledging their great shame. Perceiving that they had made themselves odious to David, the Ammonites, led by Hanun, sought to bolster their defenses by hiring a formidable mercenary force. They paid a thousand talents of silver to secure thirty-two thousand chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Syriamaachah, and Zobah, including the king of Maachah and his people, who encamped before Medeba. In response to this military buildup and the initial insult, David dispatched Joab and all the host of his mighty men. The Ammonites and their allied kings arrayed themselves for battle. Joab, observing the enemy positioned both before and behind him, strategically divided his forces: he personally led a choice contingent against the Syrians, while entrusting the remainder to his brother Abishai to confront the Ammonites. Joab encouraged his troops with a powerful exhortation to be courageous and fight valiantly for their people and the cities of their God, trusting the Lord to accomplish what was good in His sight. Joab's forces engaged the Syrians, who promptly fled before them. Witnessing the flight of their allies, the children of Ammon likewise fled before Abishai and retreated into their city, prompting Joab to return to Jerusalem. Yet, the conflict was not over; the Syrians, having been put to the worse, sent for reinforcements from beyond the river, led by Shophach, Hadarezer's captain. Upon hearing this, David personally gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and arrayed his forces against the Syrians. In the ensuing battle, the Syrians again fled before Israel, and David inflicted a devastating defeat, slaying seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand footmen, and killing Shophach. Seeing their comprehensive defeat, the servants of Hadarezer made peace with David and became his servants, concluding their assistance to the children of Ammon.

Core Concepts

  • Diplomatic InsultHanun, the Ammonite king, misinterprets David's gesture of comfort as espionage, leading him to severely humiliate David's messengers by shaving their beards and cutting their garments. This act of disrespect directly precipitates war.
  • Strategic WarfareJoab, David's military commander, demonstrates tactical acumen by dividing his forces to counter a two-front attack from the Ammonites and their Syrian allies, ensuring both flanks are engaged effectively.
  • Divine Trust in BattleJoab encourages his soldiers to fight valiantly for their people and the 'cities of our God,' concluding with the declaration, 'let the LORD do that which is good in his sight,' indicating reliance on God's sovereignty in the outcome of war.
  • Mercenary AlliancesThe Ammonites, recognizing their vulnerable position after insulting David, hire a large contingent of chariots and horsemen from various Syrian kingdoms, highlighting the practice of forming military alliances through payment.
  • David's LeadershipAfter the initial engagement, when the Syrians regroup with reinforcements, King David personally gathers all Israel and leads them into battle, securing a decisive victory and demonstrating his direct involvement in critical military campaigns.
  • Consequences of DefeatThe Syrians, after suffering two significant defeats at the hands of Israel, ultimately seek peace with David and become his servants, illustrating the political and territorial repercussions of military loss in ancient warfare.