Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash
the king
of the children
of Ammon
died
, and his son
reigned
in his stead.
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.
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
?
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
And when David heard
of it , he sent
Joab
, and all the host
of the mighty men
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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.
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
.
So Joab and the people
that were with him drew nigh
before
the Syrians
unto the battle
; and they fled
before
him.
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
.
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.
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.
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
.
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.