aNow it happened afterwards
that bthe king
of the Ammonites
died
, and Hanun
his son
became
king
in his place
.
Then David said
, "I will show
kindness
to Hanun
the son
of aNahash
, just
as his father
showed
kindness
to me." So David
sent
1some
of his servants
to console
him concerning
his father
. But when David's
servants
came
to the land
of the Ammonites
,
the princes of the Ammonites
said
to Hanun
their lord
, " 1Do you think
that David
is honoring
your father
because
he has sent
consolers
to you? aHas David
not sent
his servants
to you in order
to search
the city
, to spy
it out and overthrow
it?"
So Hanun took
David's
servants
and ashaved
off
half
of their beards
, and bcut
off
their garments
in the middle
as far
as their hips
, and sent
them away
.
When they told it to David
, he sent
to meet
them, for the men
were greatly
humiliated
. And the king
said
, " 1Stay
at Jericho
until
your beards
grow
, and then return
."
Now when the sons of Ammon
saw
that athey had become
odious
to David
, the sons
of Ammon
sent
and bhired
the Arameans
of cBeth-rehob
and the dArameans
of Zobah
, 20,000
foot
soldiers
, and the king
of eMaacah
with 1,000
men
, and the men
of Tob
with 12,000
men
.
When David heard
of it, he sent
Joab
and all
the army
, the mighty
men
.
The sons of Ammon
came
out and drew
up in battle
array aat the entrance
of the 1city
, while the Arameans
of Zobah
and of Rehob
and the men
of bTob
and Maacah
were by themselves
in the field
.
Now when Joab saw
that 1the battle
was set against
him in front
and in the rear
, he selected
from all
the choice
men of Israel
, and arrayed
them against
the Arameans
.
But the remainder of the people
he placed
in the hand
of Abishai
his brother
, and he arrayed
them against
the sons
of Ammon
.
He said, "If
the Arameans
are too
strong
for me, then you shall help
me, but if
the sons
of Ammon
are too
strong
for you, then I will come
to help
you.
" aBe strong, and let us show
ourselves courageous
for the sake
of our people
and for the cities
of our God
; and bmay the LORD
do
what
is good
in His sight
."
So Joab and the people
who
were with him drew
near
to the battle
against the Arameans
, and athey fled
before
him.
When the sons of Ammon
saw
that the Arameans
fled
, they also fled
before
Abishai
and entered
the city
. aThen Joab
returned
from fighting against
the sons
of Ammon
and came
to Jerusalem
.
When the Arameans saw
that they had been 1defeated
by Israel
, they gathered
themselves together
.
aAnd Hadadezer sent
and brought
out the Arameans
who
were beyond
the 1River
, and they came
to Helam
; and bShobach
the commander
of the army
of Hadadezer
2led
them.
Now when it was told David
, he gathered
all
Israel
together and crossed
the Jordan
, and came
to Helam
. And the Arameans
arrayed
themselves to meet
David
and fought
against
him.
But the Arameans fled
before
Israel
, and David
killed
a700
charioteers
of the Arameans
and 40,000
horsemen
and struck
down
Shobach
the commander
of their army
, and he died
there
.
When all the kings
, servants
of Hadadezer
, saw
that they were 1defeated
by Israel
, athey made
peace
with Israel
and served
them. So the Arameans
feared
to help
the sons
of Ammon
anymore
.