And it came to pass after this{H310}, that the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} died{H4191}{(H8799)}, and Hanun{H2586} his son{H1121} reigned{H4427}{(H8799)} in his stead.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, I will shew{H6213}{(H8799)} kindness{H2617} unto Hanun{H2586} the son{H1121} of Nahash{H5176}, as his father{H1} shewed{H6213}{(H8804)} kindness{H2617} unto me. And David{H1732} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} to comfort{H5162}{(H8763)} him by the hand{H3027} of his servants{H5650} for his father{H1}. And David's{H1732} servants{H5650} came{H935}{(H8799)} into the land{H776} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

And the princes{H8269} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Hanun{H2586} their lord{H113}, Thinkest{H5869} thou that David{H1732} doth honour{H3513}{(H8764)} thy father{H1}, that he hath sent{H7971}{(H8804)} comforters{H5162}{(H8764)} unto thee? hath not David{H1732} rather sent{H7971}{(H8804)} his servants{H5650} unto thee, to{H5668} search{H2713}{(H8800)} the city{H5892}, and to spy it out{H7270}{(H8763)}, and to overthrow{H2015}{(H8800)} it?

Wherefore Hanun{H2586} took{H3947}{(H8799)} David's{H1732} servants{H5650}, and shaved off{H1548}{(H8762)} the one half{H2677} of their beards{H2206}, and cut off{H3772}{(H8799)} their garments{H4063} in the middle{H2677}, even to their buttocks{H8357}, and sent them away{H7971}{(H8762)}.

When they told{H5046}{(H8686)} it unto David{H1732}, he sent{H7971}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} them, because the men{H582} were greatly{H3966} ashamed{H3637}{(H8737)}: and the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Tarry{H3427}{(H8798)} at Jericho{H3405} until your beards{H2206} be grown{H6779}{(H8762)}, and then return{H7725}{(H8804)}.

And when the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that they stank{H887}{(H8738)} before David{H1732}, the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} and hired{H7936}{(H8799)} the Syrians{H758} of Bethrehob{H1050}, and the Syrians{H758} of Zoba{H6678}, twenty{H6242} thousand{H505} footmen{H7273}, and of king{H4428} Maacah{H4601} a thousand{H505} men{H376}, and of Ishtob{H382} twelve{H6240}{H8147} thousand{H505} men{H376}.

And when David{H1732} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} of it, he sent{H7971}{(H8799)} Joab{H3097}, and all the host{H6635} of the mighty men{H1368}.

And the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} came out{H3318}{(H8799)}, and put the battle{H4421} in array{H6186}{(H8799)} at the entering in{H6607} of the gate{H8179}: and the Syrians{H758} of Zoba{H6678}, and of Rehob{H7340}, and Ishtob{H382}, and Maacah{H4601}, were by themselves{H905} in the field{H7704}.

When Joab{H3097} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that the front{H6440} of the battle{H4421} was against him before{H6440} and behind{H268}, he chose{H977}{(H8799)} of all the choice{H977}{(H8803)} men of Israel{H3478}, and put them in array{H6186}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} the Syrians{H758}:

And the rest{H3499} of the people{H5971} he delivered{H5414}{(H8804)} into the hand{H3027} of Abishai{H52} his brother{H251}, that he might put them in array{H6186}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, If the Syrians{H758} be too strong{H2388}{(H8799)} for me, then thou shalt help{H3444} me: but if the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} be too strong{H2388}{(H8799)} for thee, then I will come{H1980}{(H8804)} and help{H3467}{(H8687)} thee.

Be of good courage{H2388}{(H8798)}, and let us play the men{H2388}{(H8691)} for our people{H5971}, and for the cities{H5892} of our God{H430}: and the LORD{H3068} do{H6213}{(H8799)} that which seemeth{H5869} him good{H2896}.

And Joab{H3097} drew nigh{H5066}{(H8799)}, and the people{H5971} that were with him, unto the battle{H4421} against the Syrians{H758}: and they fled{H5127}{(H8799)} before{H6440} him.

And when the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} saw{H7200}{(H8804)} that the Syrians{H758} were fled{H5127}{(H8804)}, then fled{H5127}{(H8799)} they also before{H6440} Abishai{H52}, and entered{H935}{(H8799)} into the city{H5892}. So Joab{H3097} returned{H7725}{(H8799)} from the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Jerusalem{H3389}.

And when the Syrians{H758} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that they were smitten{H5062}{(H8738)} before{H6440} Israel{H3478}, they gathered{H622}{(H8735)} themselves together{H3162}.

And Hadarezer{H1928} sent{H7971}{(H8799)}, and brought out{H3318}{(H8686)} the Syrians{H758} that were beyond{H5676} the river{H5104}: and they came{H935}{(H8799)} to Helam{H2431}; and Shobach{H7731} the captain{H8269} of the host{H6635} of Hadarezer{H1928} went before{H6440} them.

And when it was told{H5046}{(H8714)} David{H1732}, he gathered{H622} all Israel{H3478} together{H622}{(H8799)}, and passed over{H5674}{(H8799)} Jordan{H3383}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Helam{H2431}. And the Syrians{H758} set themselves in array{H6186}{(H8799)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} David{H1732}, and fought{H3898}{(H8735)} with him.

And the Syrians{H758} fled{H5127}{(H8799)} before{H6440} Israel{H3478}; and David{H1732} slew{H2026}{(H8799)} the men of seven{H7651} hundred{H3967} chariots{H7393} of the Syrians{H758}, and forty{H705} thousand{H505} horsemen{H6571}, and smote{H5221}{(H8689)} Shobach{H7731} the captain{H8269} of their host{H6635}, who died{H4191}{(H8799)} there.

And when all the kings{H4428} that were servants{H5650} to Hadarezer{H1928} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that they were smitten{H5062}{(H8738)} before{H6440} Israel{H3478}, they made peace{H7999}{(H8686)} with Israel{H3478}, and served{H5647}{(H8799)} them. So the Syrians{H758} feared{H3372}{(H8799)} to help{H3467}{(H8687)} the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} any more.