1Po nějaké době zemřel amonský král a na jeho místo nastoupil jeho syn Chanun.2David si řekl: „Projevím přízeň Nachašovu synu Chanunovi, jako jeho otec projevoval přízeň mně.“ Poslal proto své služebníky, aby mu vyřídili soustrast nad úmrtím jeho otce. Když Davidovi služebníci přišli do země Amonců,3amonští vojevůdci řekli svému pánu Chanunovi: „Myslíš, že David měl tvého otce v takové úctě, že ti poslal těšitele? Neposlal za tebou své služebníky spíše proto, aby prohledali a proslídili město, aby je mohli podvrátit?“4Chanun tedy Davidovy služebníky zajal, oholil jim polovinu brady, roucha jim uřezal v půli až u zadnic a tak je poslal zpátky.5Jakmile se to doneslo Davidovi, poslal jim naproti posly. Protože ti muži byli velmi zostuzeni, král jim vzkázal: „Zůstaňte v Jerichu, dokud vám nenaroste vous. Pak se můžete vrátit.“6Amonci si uvědomili, jak moc Davida popudili, a tak si najali 20 000 aramejských pěšáků z Bet-rechobu a z Cóby, 1000 mužů od maackého krále a 12 000 mužů od Iš-toba.7David se to ale dozvěděl a vyslal tam Joába se všemi nejlepšími bojovníky.8Amonci vyrazili a sešikovali se k boji u brány, zatímco Aramejci z Cóby, Rechobu, Iš-tobu a Maaky zaujali postavení v poli.9Když Joáb viděl, že musí čelit boji zepředu i zezadu, vybral ty nejlepší z izraelských bojovníků a seřadil je proti Aramejcům.10Zbytek vojska svěřil pod velení svého bratra Abišaje, aby je seřadil proti Amoncům.11Joáb mu řekl: „Budou-li Aramejci nad mé síly, přijdeš mi na pomoc. Budou-li Amonci nad tvé síly, přijdu na pomoc já tobě.12Buď silný! Odvahu! Za náš lid a za města našeho Boha! Ať Hospodin učiní, co se mu zalíbí.“13Nato se Joáb se svým vojskem pustil do boje proti Aramejcům a ti se před nimi dali na útěk.14Jakmile Amonci uviděli, že Aramejci utekli, dali se i oni na útěk před Abišajem a stáhli se do města. Joáb tehdy ukončil boj proti Amoncům a vrátil se do Jeruzaléma.15Aramejci viděli, že je Izrael porazil, a tak se přeskupili.16Hadad-ezer poslal také pro Aramejce z druhého břehu Eufratu, a když je přivedl, přitáhli do Chelamu v čele s Hadad-ezerovým vojevůdcem Šobachem.17Když se to David dozvěděl, shromáždil celý Izrael, překročil Jordán a přitáhl k Chelamu. Aramejci se sešikovali proti Davidovi a pustili se s ním do boje.18Museli se ale před Izraelem dát na útěk. David mezi Aramejci pobil 700 vozatajů a 40 000 pěšáků.[1] Jejich vojevůdce Šobacha zranil tak, že na místě zemřel.19Všichni králové, kteří byli Hadad-ezerovými vazaly, viděli, že ho Izrael porazil. Uzavřeli tedy s Izraelci mír a stali se jejich vazaly. Aramejci se pak báli přijít ještě někdy Amoncům na pomoc.
1After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. (1Pa 19,1)2And David said, “I will deal loyally[1] with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. (1S 11,1)3But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?”4So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away. (Iz 20,4)5When it was told David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”6When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. (Jz 13,11; Jz 13,13; Sd 11,3; Sd 11,5; Sd 18,28; 2S 8,3; 2S 8,5)7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. (2S 23,8)8And the Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. (2S 10,6)9When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Syrians.10The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites.11And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.12Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” (Dt 31,6; 1S 3,18; 1S 4,9; 1K 16,13)13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.14And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.15But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.16And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates.[2] They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. (2S 8,3; 1Pa 19,16)17And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.18And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. (1Pa 19,18)19And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore. (2S 8,6)