[1] It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died,
and Hanun his son reigned in his place. [2] David said, I will show
kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.
So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David`s
servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. [3] But the princes
of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David
honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn`t David
sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to
overthrow it? [4] So Hanun took David`s servants, and shaved off the one
half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to
their buttocks, and sent them away. [5] When they told it to David, he sent
to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at
Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. [6] When the children
of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon
sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty
thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men
of Tob twelve thousand men. [7] When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and
all the host of the mighty men. [8] The children of Ammon came out, and put
the battle in 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
field. [9] Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and
behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array
against the Syrians: [10] The rest of the people he committed into the hand
of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of
Ammon. [11] He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall
help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will
come and help you. [12] Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our
people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him
good. [13] So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle
against the Syrians: and they fled before him. [14] When the children of
Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai,
and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon,
and came to Jerusalem. [15] When the Syrians saw that they were put to the
worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together. [16] Hadarezer
sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came
to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.
[17] It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed
over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array
against David, and fought with him. [18] The Syrians fled before Israel;
and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and
forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, so
that he died there. [19] When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer
saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with
Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of
Ammon any more.
