📖 1 Chronicles — Chapter 19 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
1 Chronicles 19:1 Now it came to pass after this, that RNahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 19:2 And David said, RI 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.
1 Chronicles 19:3 RBut the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, TThinkest 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?
1 Chronicles 19:4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and Rshaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.
1 Chronicles 19:5 Then there went certain, Rand 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.
1 Chronicles 19:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they Rhad made themselves Todious 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.
1 Chronicles 19:7 So they Rhired 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.
1 Chronicles 19:8 And when David heard of it, he sent RJoab, and all the host of the mighty men.
1 Chronicles 19:9 And the children of Ammon came out, and Rput the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
1 Chronicles 19:10 Now Rwhen Joab saw that Tthe battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the Tchoice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
1 Chronicles 19:11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of RTAbishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
1 Chronicles 19:12 And he said, RIf 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.
1 Chronicles 19:13 Be Rof 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.
1 Chronicles 19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and Rthey fled before him.
1 Chronicles 19:15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, Rthey likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 19:16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, Rand drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the Triver: and TShophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
1 Chronicles 19:17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, Rand set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
1 Chronicles 19:18 But the Syrians Rfled 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.
1 Chronicles 19:19 And when Rthe 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.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 19:1–5 — Kindness misread
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David sends comforters to Hanun after his father's death. Hanun's advisers interpret the gesture as espionage, and the messengers are humiliated. David gives them time away until their beards grow. Suspicion has turned an offer of kindness into a serious injury, while David attends to the injured men's dignity.
Key Truth: Test suspicion carefully and care for those humiliated.
Check What You Remember
1. To whom did David send comforters? (1 Chronicles 19:2)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:2 (KJV).
2. Whose death were they sent to mourn? (1 Chronicles 19:1)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:1 (KJV).
3. Where did David tell the men to wait? (1 Chronicles 19:5)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 19:6–15 — Mutual help in danger
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Ammon hires allies, and Joab faces enemies on two fronts. He and Abishai divide the forces and promise to help whichever side is pressed hardest. Joab calls for courage while leaving the outcome with the LORD. The account shows cooperation and responsibility rather than pretending that courage controls every result.
Key Truth: Act responsibly and support one another under pressure.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom did David send with the army? (1 Chronicles 19:8)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:8 (KJV).
2. Who commanded the forces facing Ammon? (1 Chronicles 19:11)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:11 (KJV).
3. Who would do what was good in his sight? (1 Chronicles 19:13)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:13 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
1 Chronicles 19:16–19 — The conflict ends
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Syrians gather again, but David meets them and defeats their forces. Hadarezer's servants make peace and no longer help Ammon. The conflict that began with mistrusted kindness has widened into war and costly defeat. The chapter highlights how destructive choices can carry consequences far beyond their beginning.
Key Truth: Consider the wider consequences of hostile choices.
Check What You Remember
1. Who led the Syrian host? (1 Chronicles 19:16)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:16 (KJV).
2. Which river did David cross? (1 Chronicles 19:17)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:17 (KJV).
3. Whom would the Syrians no longer help? (1 Chronicles 19:19)
Find it in 1 Chronicles 19:19 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Proverbs 18:13 — The proverb warns against answering before properly hearing a matter.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you check an assumption before it harms a relationship?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the Ammonite advisers’ interpretation differ from David’s stated purpose?
2. How does David respond to his servants’ public humiliation?
3. How does Joab arrange for mutual support against two fronts?
4. How does Joab’s exhortation combine effort and trust?
5. How does the final defeat alter the Syrian alliance?
Notes
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