2 Samuel 10

1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.

2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3 the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7 On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

8 The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

9 When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

10 And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

11 “If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

13 So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

14 When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.

16 Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17 When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.

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

19 When all the kings who were subject to 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.

1 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2 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.

3 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?

4 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.

5 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.

6 ¶ 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.

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

8 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.

9 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:

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

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

14 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.

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

16 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.

17 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.

18 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.

19 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.

1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died; and Hanon his son reigned in his stead.

2 And David said, I will shew mercy unto Hanon the son of Naha, as his father shewed mercy unto me. And he sent and comforted him by his servants concerning his father. And the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon,

3 And the mighty men of the children of Ammon said unto Hanon their lord, Thinkest thou that David hath honoured thy father in thy sight, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Thinkest thou not that therefore he hath sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to search it, and to return?

4 And Hanon took David's servants, and shaved half their beards, and cut off half their garments, even to the girdle, and sent them away.

5 And when it was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly defiled. And the king said unto them, Tarry at Jericho until your beard be grown, and then come again.

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, they sent, and dined with the Syrians of the house of Rehob, and with the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maachah a thousand men, and of Ishob twelve thousand men.

7 And when David heard it, he sent Joab with all the host of the men of war.

8 And the children of Ammon went out, and prepared themselves to battle at the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and of Ishob, and of Maachah, were alone in the field.

9 And it came to pass, when Joab saw that the battle was set upon him, both before and behind, that he chose out of all the young men of Israel, and armed himself against the Syrians.

10 And the rest of the people he put under the hand of Abishai his brother, to make ready against the children of Ammon;

11 And said, If the Syrians outnumber me, come to my help: but if the children of Ammon outnumber thee, I will come to thy help.

12 Be of good cheer, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: but let the LORD do that which is right in his sight.

13 And Joab came near with the people that were with him to fight against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled from Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they came in multitude.

16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and brought in their force: and Shobach the captain of Hadarezer's host went before them.

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians armed themselves against David to fight with him.

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel: and David slew of the Syrians seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen: and he smote Shobach the captain of the host, and he died there.

19 And when the kings that were under Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became subject unto them. And the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon more.