¶ 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 said David, I will shew kindness² unto Hanun the son of Nahash³, as his father⁴ 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.

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth⁵ 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?

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved⁶ off the one half of their beards, and cut off⁷ their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho⁸ until your beards be grown, and then return.

¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank⁹ before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob¹⁰, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah¹² a thousand men, and of Ishtob¹³ twelve thousand men.

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host¹⁴ of the mighty men.

And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering¹⁵ in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob¹⁶, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

¹⁷When 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:

¶ 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.

¹⁸And 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 of good¹⁹ courage, and let us play²⁰ the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD²¹ do that which seemeth him good.

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled²² before him.

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.

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

And Hadarezer²⁴ sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river²⁵: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

And when it was told David, he gathered²⁶ all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

And the Syrians fled²⁷ before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen²⁸, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

And when all the kings that were servants³⁰ to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared³¹ to help the children of Ammon any more.