The Ammonites Dishonor David’s Men

1Now it happened afterwards, that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son became king in his place. 2So David said, “I will show lovingkindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed lovingkindness to me.” So David sent to comfort him concerning his father by the hand of his servants. And David’s servants came to the land of the sons of Ammon. 3But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5Then they told it to David. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, “[†]Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”

6Then the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David. So the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7Then David heard of it and sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 8And the sons of Ammon came out and arranged themselves for battle at the entrance of the gate of the city. But the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram

9Then Joab saw that [†]the battle was set against him from the front and from the rear. So he chose from all the choice men of Israel, and they arranged themselves to meet the Arameans. 10But the remainder of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother; and he arranged them to meet the sons of Ammon. 11And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall save me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to save you. 12Be strong, and let us show strength for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what is good in His sight.” 13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14Now the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled. So they also fled before Abishai and came into the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15Then the Arameans saw that they had been [†]defeated by Israel. So they gathered themselves together. 16And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the [†]River, and they came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [†]led them. 17And it was told to David, so he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans arranged themselves to meet David and fought against him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 700 charioteers and 40,000 horsemen and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19Then all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were [†]defeated by Israel. So they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Arameans were afraid to save the sons of Ammon anymore.