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

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 David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun, the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent his servants to console Hanun about his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

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.

the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, their lord, 'Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending comforters to you? Isn’t it rather to investigate, spy out the city, and overthrow it that David has sent his servants to you?'

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?

So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, exposing their buttocks, and sent them away.

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 this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, 'Stay at Jericho until your beards grow back, and then return.'

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.

When the Ammonites realized they had become odious to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and twelve thousand men from Tob.

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.

When David heard of this, he sent Joab and all the 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 drew up in battle formation at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob, along with the men of Tob and Maacah, were stationed by themselves in the open field.

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 battle lines were drawn up against him both in front and behind, he chose some of the select men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

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:

He placed the rest of the people under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

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.

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

Be strong, and let us show strength for the sake of our people and the cities of our God. May the LORD do what seems good to Him.

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.

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

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and went back to Jerusalem.

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.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.

And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

Hadadezer sent for the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates River. They came to Helam, led by Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer’s army.

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.

When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him.

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.

But the Arameans fled before Israel. David killed seven hundred Aramean charioteers and forty thousand horsemen. He also struck down Shobach, the commander of their army, who died there.

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.

When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

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.