1And it came to pass after this , that the king of the children of Ammon died , and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2Then 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 . 3And 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? 4Wherefore 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, because 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 stank before David , the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob , and the Syrians of Zoba , twenty thousand footmen , and of king Maacah a thousand men , and of Ish-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 entering in of the gate : and the Syrians of Zoba , and of Rehob , and Ish-tob , and Maacah , were by themselves in the field . 9When 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 : 10And 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 . 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 men for our people , and for the cities of our God : and the LORD do that which seemeth him good . 13And Joab drew nigh , and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians : and they fled before him. 14And 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 .
The Battle and God's Deliverance
15And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel , they gathered themselves together . 16And 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. 17And 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. 18And 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. 19And 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.