1And it came to pass after this , that the king of the children of Ammon died , and Hanun his son reigned in his stead . 2And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash , as his father showed kindness unto me . So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father . And David ’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon . 3But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father , in that he hath sent comforters unto thee ? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city , and to spy it out , and to overthrow it ? 4So 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 . 5When they told it unto David , he sent to meet them ; for the men were greatly ashamed . And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown , and then return .
The Ammonite Response and War Preparations
6And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David , the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob , and the Syrians of Zobah , twenty thousand footmen , and the king of Maacah with a thousand men , and the men of Tob twelve thousand men . 7And when David heard of it , he sent Joab , and all the host of the mighty men . 8And the children of Ammon came out , and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate : and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob , and the men of Tob and Maacah , were by themselves in the field . 9Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel , and put them in array against the Syrians: 10and the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon . 11And 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. 12Be of good courage , and let us play the man for our people , and for the cities of our God : and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good . 13So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him . 14And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled , they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city . Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon , and came to Jerusalem .
The Battle and God's Deliverance
15And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel , they gathered themselves together . 16And Hadarezer sent , and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River : and they came to Helam , with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head . 17And it was told David ; and he gathered all Israel together , and passed over the Jordan , and came to Helam . And the Syrians set themselves in array against David , and fought with him . 18And the Syrians fled before Israel ; and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots , and forty thousand horsemen , and smote Shobach the captain of their host , so that he died there . 19And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel , they made peace with Israel , and served them . So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more .