1 The Ammonites Dishonor David’s Men Now it happened afterwards, that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son became king in his place.
2 So 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.
3 But 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?”
4 So 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.
5 Then they tolditto David. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, “ 10:5 Lit Return to Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, andthenreturn.”
6 Then 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,20,000foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with1,000men, and the men of Tob with12,000men.
7 Then David heardof itand sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men.
8 And the sons of Ammon came out and arrangedthemselvesfor battle at the entrance of the gateof 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
9 Then Joab saw that 10:9 Lit the faces of the battle were against the battle was set against him fromthefront and fromtherear. So he chose from all the choice men of Israel, and they arrangedthemselvesto meet the Arameans.
10 But the remainder of the people he put in the hand of Abishai his brother; and he arranged them to meet the sons of Ammon.
11 And 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.
12 Be 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.”
13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.
14 Now the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled. So theyalsofled before Abishai and came into the city. Then Joab returned fromfightingagainst the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15 Then the Arameans saw that they had been 10:15Lit smitten before defeated by Israel. So they gathered themselves together.
16 And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the 10:16The Euphrates River River, and they came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer 10:16Lit before led them.
17 And 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.
18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 700 charioteers and40,000horsemen and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.
19 Then all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were 10:19Lit smitten before defeated by Israel. So they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Arameans were afraid to save the sons of Ammon anymore.