1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the
children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
2 And
David said, I 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.
3 But
the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest 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?
4 Wherefore
Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the
midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 Then
there went certain, and 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.
6 And
when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious 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.
7 So
they hired 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.
8 And
when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the
host of the mighty men.
9 And
the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of
the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
10 Now
when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose
out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11 And
the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and
they set themselves in
array against the children of Ammon.
12 And
he said, If 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.
13 Be
of 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.
14 So
Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians
unto the battle; and they fled before him.
15 And
when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled
before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to
Jerusalem.
16 And
when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent
messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the
captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 And
it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came
upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David
had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
18 But
the Syrians fled 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.
19 And
when the 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.
