ThensaidDavid, I willshewkindnessuntoHanun the son of Nahash, as his fathershewedkindnessunto me. And Davidsent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’sservantscameinto the land of the children of Ammon.
And the princes of the children of AmmonsaiduntoHanuntheirlord, ThinkestthouthatDaviddothhonour thy father, that he hathsentcomfortersuntothee? hath not Davidrathersent his servantsuntothee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
WhereforeHanuntookDavid’sservants, and shaved off the one half of theirbeards, and cut off theirgarments in the middle, even to theirbuttocks, and sentthemaway.
Whentheytold it untoDavid, he sent to meetthem, because the men weregreatlyashamed: and the kingsaid, Tarry at Jerichountilyourbeards be grown, and thenreturn.
And when the children of Ammon saw thattheystankbeforeDavid, the children of Ammonsent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twentythousandfootmen, and of kingMaacah a thousand men, and of Ishtobtwelvethousand men.
And the children of Ammoncame 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.
WhenJoab 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 arrayagainst the Syrians:
And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, thenthoushalthelp me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I willcome and helpthee.
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrianswerefled, thenfledtheyalsobeforeAbishai, and enteredinto the city. So Joabreturnedfrom the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
And Hadarezersent, and brought out the Syriansthatwerebeyond the river: and theycame to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezerwentbeforethem.
And when it was toldDavid, he gathered all Israeltogether, and passedoverJordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in arrayagainstDavid, and foughtwith him.
And the SyriansfledbeforeIsrael; and Davidslew the men of sevenhundredchariots of the Syrians, and fortythousandhorsemen, and smoteShobach the captain of theirhost, who diedthere.
And when all the kingsthatwereservants to Hadarezer saw thattheyweresmittenbeforeIsrael, theymadepeacewithIsrael, and servedthem. So the Syriansfeared to help the children of Ammon any more.