After this, Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, and his son became king in his place.

Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

Then David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun,

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.

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, 'Do you think David is honoring your father by sending you comforters? Isn't it in order to explore, overthrow, and spy out the land that his servants have come to you?'

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?

So Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away.

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.

When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet them, because the men had been greatly humiliated. The king said, 'Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back, and then return.'

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.

When the Ammonites realized that they had become offensive to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.

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.

They hired thirty-two thousand chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his troops, who came and camped near Medeba. The Ammonites also gathered from their cities and came out for battle.

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.

When David heard this, he sent Joab and the entire army of mighty warriors.

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open field.

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.

When Joab saw that the battle lines were drawn both in front and behind him, he selected some of his best men from Israel and arranged them to fight against the Arameans.

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.

He placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, and they arranged to confront the Ammonites.

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.

Joab said, 'If the Arameans are too strong for me, you will come to my rescue, and if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you.'

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 strong, and let us show courage for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.

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.

Joab and the troops who were with him advanced against the Arameans to fight, and they fled before him.

So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and went back into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem.

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.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring out additional Aramean forces from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, leading them.

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.

When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and advanced against them to set up his battle lines. David arranged his forces to face the Arameans, and they fought against him.

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 Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand chariot drivers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shophach, the commander of their army.

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.

When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After this, the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.

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.