1And it came to pass after this310, that the king4428 of the children1121 of Ammon5983 died4191, and Hanun2586 his son1121 reigned4427 in his stead.
2Then said559 David1732, I will shew6213 kindness2617 unto Hanun2586 the son1121 of Nahash5176, as his father1 shewed6213 kindness2617 unto me. And David1732 sent7971 to comfort5162 him by the hand3027 of his servants5650 for his father1. And David's1732 servants5650 came935 into the land776 of the children1121 of Ammon5983.
3And the princes8269 of the children1121 of Ammon5983 said559 unto Hanun2586 their lord113, Thinkest5869 thou that David1732 doth honour3513 thy father1, that he hath sent7971 comforters5162 unto thee? hath not David1732 rather sent7971 his servants5650 unto thee, to5668 search2713 the city5892, and to spy it out7270, and to overthrow2015 it?
4Wherefore Hanun2586 took3947 David's1732 servants5650, and shaved off1548 the one half2677 of their beards2206, and cut off3772 their garments4063 in the middle2677, even to their buttocks8357, and sent them away7971.
5When they told5046 it unto David1732, he sent7971 to meet7125 them, because the men582 were greatly3966 ashamed3637: and the king4428 said559, Tarry3427 at Jericho3405 until your beards2206 be grown6779, and then return7725.
6And when the children1121 of Ammon5983 saw7200 that they stank887 before David1732, the children1121 of Ammon5983 sent7971 and hired7936 the Syrians758 of Bethrehob1050, and the Syrians758 of Zoba6678, twenty6242 thousand505 footmen7273, and of king4428 Maacah4601 a thousand505 men376, and of Ishtob382 twelve6240 8147 thousand505 men376.
7And when David1732 heard8085 of it, he sent7971 Joab3097, and all the host6635 of the mighty men1368.
8And the children1121 of Ammon5983 came out3318, and put the battle4421 in array6186 at the entering in6607 of the gate8179: and the Syrians758 of Zoba6678, and of Rehob7340, and Ishtob382, and Maacah4601, were by themselves905 in the field7704.
9When Joab3097 saw7200 that the front6440 of the battle4421 was against him before6440 and behind268, he chose977 of all the choice977 men of Israel3478, and put them in array6186 against7125 the Syrians758:
10And the rest3499 of the people5971 he delivered5414 into the hand3027 of Abishai52 his brother251, that he might put them in array6186 against7125 the children1121 of Ammon5983.
11And he said559, If the Syrians758 be too strong2388 for me, then thou shalt help3444 me: but if the children1121 of Ammon5983 be too strong2388 for thee, then I will come1980 and help3467 thee.
12Be of good courage2388, and let us play the men2388 for our people5971, and for the cities5892 of our God430: and the LORD3068 do6213 that which seemeth5869 him good2896.
13And Joab3097 drew nigh5066, and the people5971 that were with him, unto the battle4421 against the Syrians758: and they fled5127 before6440 him.
14And when the children1121 of Ammon5983 saw7200 that the Syrians758 were fled5127, then fled5127 they also before6440 Abishai52, and entered935 into the city5892. So Joab3097 returned7725 from the children1121 of Ammon5983, and came935 to Jerusalem3389.
15And when the Syrians758 saw7200 that they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel3478, they gathered622 themselves together3162.
16And Hadarezer1928 sent7971, and brought out3318 the Syrians758 that were beyond5676 the river5104: and they came935 to Helam2431; and Shobach7731 the captain8269 of the host6635 of Hadarezer1928 went before6440 them.
17And when it was told5046 David1732, he gathered622 all Israel3478 together622, and passed over5674 Jordan3383, and came935 to Helam2431. And the Syrians758 set themselves in array6186 against7125 David1732, and fought3898 with him.
18And the Syrians758 fled5127 before6440 Israel3478; and David1732 slew2026 the men of seven7651 hundred3967 chariots7393 of the Syrians758, and forty705 thousand505 horsemen6571, and smote5221 Shobach7731 the captain8269 of their host6635, who died4191 there.
19And when all the kings4428 that were servants5650 to Hadarezer1928 saw7200 that they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel3478, they made peace7999 with Israel3478, and served5647 them. So the Syrians758 feared3372 to help3467 the children1121 of Ammon5983 any more.