And it came to pass after this,{H310} that the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} died,{H4191} and Hanun{H2586} his son{H1121} reigned{H4427} in his stead.

And David{H1732} said,{H559} I will show{H6213} kindness{H2617} unto Hanun{H2586} the son{H1121} of Nahash,{H5176} as his father{H1} showed{H6213} kindness{H2617} unto me. So David{H1732} sent{H7971} by{H3027} his servants{H5650} to comfort{H5162} him concerning his father.{H1} And David's{H1732} servants{H5650} came{H935} into the land{H776} of the children{H1121} of Ammon.{H5983}

But the princes{H8269} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} said{H559} unto Hanun{H2586} their lord,{H113} Thinkest{H5869} thou that David{H1732} doth honor{H3513} thy father,{H1} in that he hath sent{H7971} comforters{H5162} unto thee? hath not David{H1732} sent{H7971} his servants{H5650} unto thee to{H5668} search{H2713} the city,{H5892} and to spy it out,{H7270} and to overthrow{H2015} it?

So Hanun{H2586} took{H3947} David's{H1732} servants,{H5650} and shaved off{H1548} the one half{H2677} of their beards,{H2206} and cut off{H3772} their garments{H4063} in the middle,{H2677} even to their buttocks,{H8357} and sent them away.{H7971}

When they told{H5046} it unto David,{H1732} he sent{H7971} to meet{H7125} them; for the men{H582} were greatly{H3966} ashamed.{H3637} And the king{H4428} said,{H559} Tarry{H3427} at Jericho{H3405} until your beards{H2206} be grown,{H6779} and then return.{H7725}

And when the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} saw{H7200} that they were become odious{H887} to David,{H1732} the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} sent{H7971} and hired{H7936} the Syrians{H758} of Beth-rehob,{H1050} and the Syrians{H758} of Zobah,{H6678} twenty{H6242} thousand{H505} footmen,{H7273} and the king{H4428} of Maacah{H4601} with a thousand{H505} men,{H376} and the men{H376} of Tob twelve{H6240} thousand{H505} men.{H376}

And when David{H1732} heard{H8085} of it, he sent{H7971} Joab,{H3097} and all the host{H6635} of the mighty men.{H1368}

And the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} came out,{H3318} and put the battle{H4421} in{H6607} array{H6186} at the entrance{H8179} of the gate:{H8179} and the Syrians{H758} of Zobah{H6678} and of Rehob,{H7340} and the men of Tob and Maacah,{H4601} were by themselves{H905} in the field.{H7704}

Now when Joab{H3097} saw{H7200} that the battle{H4421} was set{H6440} against him before{H6440} and behind,{H268} he chose{H977} of all the choice{H977} men of Israel,{H3478} and put them in array{H6186} against{H7125} the Syrians:{H758}

And the rest{H3499} of the people{H5971} he committed{H5414} into the hand{H3027} of Abishai{H52} his brother;{H251} and he put them in array{H6186} against{H7125} the children{H1121} of Ammon.{H5983}

And he said,{H559} If the Syrians{H758} be too strong{H2388} for me, then thou shalt help{H3444} me; but if the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} be too strong{H2388} for thee, then I will come{H1980} and help{H3467} thee.

Be of good courage,{H2388} and let us play the man{H2388} for our people,{H5971} and for the cities{H5892} of our God:{H430} and Jehovah{H3068} do{H6213} that which seemeth{H5869} him good.{H2896}

So Joab{H3097} and the people{H5971} that were with him drew nigh{H5066} unto the battle{H4421} against the Syrians:{H758} and they fled{H5127} before{H6440} him.

And when the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} saw{H7200} that the Syrians{H758} were fled,{H5127} they likewise fled{H5127} before{H6440} Abishai,{H52} and entered{H935} into the city.{H5892} Then Joab{H3097} returned{H7725} from the children{H1121} of Ammon,{H5983} and came{H935} to Jerusalem.{H3389}

And when the Syrians{H758} saw{H7200} that they were put to the worse{H5062} before{H6440} Israel,{H3478} they gathered{H622} themselves together.{H3162}

And Hadarezer{H1928} sent,{H7971} and brought out{H3318} the Syrians{H758} that were beyond{H5676} the River:{H5104} and they came{H935} to Helam,{H2431} with Shobach{H7731} the captain{H8269} of the host{H6635} of Hadarezer{H1928} at their head.{H6440}

And it was told{H5046} David;{H1732} and he gathered{H622} all Israel{H3478} together,{H622} and passed over{H5674} the Jordan,{H3383} and came{H935} to Helam.{H2431} And the Syrians{H758} set themselves in array{H6186} against{H7125} David,{H1732} and fought{H3898} with him.

And the Syrians{H758} fled{H5127} before{H6440} Israel;{H3478} and David{H1732} slew{H2026} of the Syrians{H758} [the men of] seven{H7651} hundred{H3967} chariots,{H7393} and forty{H705} thousand{H505} horsemen,{H6571} and smote{H5221} Shobach{H7731} the captain{H8269} of their host,{H6635} so that he died{H4191} there.

And when all the kings{H4428} that were servants{H5650} to Hadarezer{H1928} saw{H7200} that they were put to the worse{H5062} before{H6440} Israel,{H3478} they made peace{H7999} with Israel,{H3478} and served{H5647} them. So the Syrians{H758} feared{H3372} to help{H3467} the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} any more.