And it came to pass after this, that the king
of the children
of Ammon
died
, and Hanun
his son
reigned
in his stead.
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
.
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?
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
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
.
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
:
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
.
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.
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
.
And Joab drew nigh
, and the people
that were with him, unto the battle
against the Syrians
: and they fled
before
him.
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
.
And when the Syrians saw
that they were smitten
before
Israel
, they gathered
themselves together
.
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.
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.
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.
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.