BNP blending of 2 Samuel 10 & 1 Chronicles 19

Bible Narrative Project Blending #6: 2 Samuel 10 & 1 Chronicles 19

David’s Messengers Abused

1 Now it came about after this happened afterwards that Nahash the king of the Ammonites (sons of Ammon) died, and Hanun his son became king in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console him concerning his father. But when David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites (sons of Ammon), to Hanun to console him, 3 the princes of the Ammonites (sons of Ammon) said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David is honoring your father in that he has sent consolers and comforters to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy the land out and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5 Then when certain persons went and told it to David about the men, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.” 6 Now when the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent (1,000 talents of silver) and hired chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men from Aram-maacah, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7 So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 8 When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 9 The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah, the kings who had come, were by themselves in the field.

Ammon and Aram Defeated

10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans. 11 But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the sons of Ammon. 12 He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.13 “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” 14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem. 16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadadezer sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them. 17 When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon Helam and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, the Arameans arrayed themselves to meet David and fought against him. 18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 7,000 charioteers of the Arameans and 40,000 horsemen (foot soldiers) and struck down to death Shobach/Shophach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19 When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel/David and served them/him. So the Arameans feared and were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.