1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the
children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 Then
said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father
shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants
for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of
Ammon.
3 And
the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou
that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath
not David rather sent
his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow
it?
4 Wherefore
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 unto
David, he sent to meet them, because 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 stank before David, the children of
Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty
thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve
thousand men.
7 And
when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host
of the mighty men.
8 And
the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in
of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by
themselves in the field.
9 When
Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he
chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in
array against the Syrians:
10 And
the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that
he might put them in
array against the children of Ammon.
11 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 come and help thee.
12 Be
of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of
our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
13 And
Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the
Syrians: and they fled before him.
14 And
when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also
before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children
of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 And
when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered
themselves together.
16 And
Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond
the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of
Hadarezer went before
them.
17 And
when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over
Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against
David, and fought with him.
18 And
the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven
hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach
the captain of their host, who died there.
19 And
when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they
were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So
the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
