1 Chronicles 19:1

THE MESSAGE

Some time after this Nahash king of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him as king. David said, "I'd like to show some kindness to Hanun son of Nahash—treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me." So David sent condolences about his father's death. But when David's servants arrived in Ammonite country and came to Hanun to bring condolences, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don't you know that he's sent these men to snoop around the city and size it up so that he can capture it?" So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them clean, cut off their robes half way up their buttocks, and sent them packing. When this was all reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, for they were seriously humiliated. The king told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow out; only then come back." When it dawned on the Ammonites that as far as David was concerned, they stank to high heaven, they hired, at a cost of a thousand talents of silver (thirty-seven and a half tons!), chariots and horsemen from the Arameans of Naharaim, Maacah, and Zobah—thirty-two thousand chariots and drivers; plus the king of Maacah with his troops who came and set up camp at Medeba; the Ammonites, too, were mobilized from their cities and got ready for battle. When David heard this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force. The Ammonites marched out and spread out in battle formation at the city gate; the kings who had come as allies took up a position in the open fields. When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans. The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to deal with the Ammonites. Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me; and if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you. Courage! We'll fight might and main for our people and for the cities of our God. And God will do whatever he sees needs doing!" But when Joab and his soldiers moved in to fight the Arameans, they ran off in full retreat. Then the Ammonites, seeing the Arameans run for dear life, took to their heels and ran from Abishai into the city. So Joab withdrew from the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem. When the Arameans saw how badly they'd been beaten by Israel, they picked up the pieces and regrouped; they sent for the Arameans who were across the river; Shophach, commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. When all this was reported to David, he mustered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced, and prepared to fight. The Arameans went into battle formation, ready for David, and the fight was on. But the Arameans again scattered before Israel. David killed seven thousand chariot drivers and forty thousand infantry. He also killed Shophach, the army commander. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. The Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites ever again.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Some time later, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.

Hebrew Names Version
It happened after this, that Nachash the king of the children of `Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

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

English Standard Version
Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place.

New Century Version
When Nahash king of the Ammonites died, his son became king after him.

New English Translation
Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him.

Amplified Bible
Now it came about after this, that Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

World English Bible
It happened after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

Geneva Bible (1587)
After this also Nahash the King of the children of Ammon dyed, and his sonne reigned in his stead.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened afterwards, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

Berean Standard Bible
Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son.

Contemporary English Version
Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king.

Complete Jewish Bible
Some time later, when Nachash the king of the people of ‘Amon died, his son became king in his place.

Darby Translation
And it came to pass after this that Nahash king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Easy-to-Read Version
Nahash was king of the Ammonites. When Nahash died, his son became the new king.

George Lamsa Translation
NOW it came to pass after this that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his stead.

Good News Translation
Some time later King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king.

Lexham English Bible
And it happened that after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place.

Literal Translation
And it happened after this, that King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his place.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And after this dyed Nahas ye kynge of the childre of Ammon, and his sonne was kynge in his steade.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Bible in Basic English
Now it came about after this that death came to Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, and his son became king in his place.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
After this, it chaunced that Nahas the king of the children of Ammon dyed, & his sonne raigned in his steade.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

King James Version (1611)
Now it came to passe after this, that Nahash the King of the children of Ammon dyed, & his sonne reigned in his stead.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass after this, that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died, and Anan his son reigned in his stead.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe it bifelde, that Naas, kyng of the sones of Amon, diede, and his sone regnyde for him.

Update Bible Version
And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

New King James Version
2 Samuel 10:1-19">[xr] It happened after this that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.

New Living Translation
Some time after this, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king.

New Life Bible
After this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. And his son became king in his place.

New Revised Standard
Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon died, - and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now it came to pass that Naas the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Revised Standard Version
Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass after this, that Nahash king of the sons of Ammon dieth, and his son reigneth in his stead,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

Contextual Overview

¹Some time after this Nahash king of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him as king. David said, "I'd like to show some kindness to Hanun son of Nahash—treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me." So David sent condolences about his father's death. But when David's servants arrived in Ammonite country and came to Hanun to bring condolences, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don't you know that he's sent these men to snoop around the city and size it up so that he can capture it?" So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them clean, cut off their robes half way up their buttocks, and sent them packing. When this was all reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, for they were seriously humiliated. The king told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow out; only then come back." When it dawned on the Ammonites that as far as David was concerned, they stank to high heaven, they hired, at a cost of a thousand talents of silver (thirty-seven and a half tons!), chariots and horsemen from the Arameans of Naharaim, Maacah, and Zobah—thirty-two thousand chariots and drivers; plus the king of Maacah with his troops who came and set up camp at Medeba; the Ammonites, too, were mobilized from their cities and got ready for battle. When David heard this, he dispatched Joab with his strongest fighters in full force. The Ammonites marched out and spread out in battle formation at the city gate; the kings who had come as allies took up a position in the open fields. When Joab saw that he had two fronts to fight, before and behind, he took his pick of the best of Israel and deployed them to confront the Arameans. The rest of the army he put under the command of Abishai, his brother, and deployed them to deal with the Ammonites. Then he said, "If the Arameans are too much for me, you help me; and if the Ammonites prove too much for you, I'll come and help you. Courage! We'll fight might and main for our people and for the cities of our God. And God will do whatever he sees needs doing!" But when Joab and his soldiers moved in to fight the Arameans, they ran off in full retreat. Then the Ammonites, seeing the Arameans run for dear life, took to their heels and ran from Abishai into the city. So Joab withdrew from the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem. When the Arameans saw how badly they'd been beaten by Israel, they picked up the pieces and regrouped; they sent for the Arameans who were across the river; Shophach, commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. When all this was reported to David, he mustered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced, and prepared to fight. The Arameans went into battle formation, ready for David, and the fight was on. But the Arameans again scattered before Israel. David killed seven thousand chariot drivers and forty thousand infantry. He also killed Shophach, the army commander. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. The Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites ever again. ³ Some time after this Nahash king of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him as king. David said, "I'd like to show some kindness to Hanun son of Nahash—treat him as well and as kindly as his father treated me." So David sent condolences about his father's death. But when David's servants arrived in Ammonite country and came to Hanun to bring condolences, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, "Do you for a minute suppose that David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Don't you know that he's sent these men to snoop around the city and size it up so that he can capture it?" ⁴ So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them clean, cut off their robes half way up their buttocks, and sent them packing. ⁵ When this was all reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, for they were seriously humiliated. The king told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow out; only then come back."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Nahash: 1 Samuel 11:1, 1 Samuel 11:2, 1 Samuel 12:12, 2 Samuel 10:1-3

Cross-References

Genesis 18:22
The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God 's path, blocking his way.

Genesis 19:1
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting at the city gate. He saw them and got up to welcome them, bowing before them and said, "Please, my friends, come to my house and stay the night. Wash up. You can rise early and be on your way refreshed." They said, "No, we'll sleep in the street."

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Compare the marginal references and notes. The writer here adds one or two touches, and varies in one or two of the numbers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XIX

David sends a congratulatory message to Hanun, king of Ammon,

1, 2.

He treats the messengers with great incivility, 3, 4.

David is exasperated, but condoles with the degraded

messengers, 5.

The Ammonites prepare for war, and hire thirty-two thousand

chariots, and besiege Medeba, 6, 7.

David sends Joab to attack them; he defeats the Syrians and

Ammonites, 8-15.

The discomfited Syrians recruit their army, and invade David's

territories beyond Jordan; he attacks them, kills Shophach

their general, seven thousand charioteers, and forty thousand

of their infantry, 16-18.

The Syrians abandon the Ammonites and make a separate peace

with David, 19.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIX

Verse 1 Chronicles 19:1. Now it came to pass — See the same history, 2 Samuel 10:1, &c., and the notes there.