1 ¶ Later, the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his place.

2 Then David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent emissaries to comfort Hanun concerning his father. And David’s emissaries entered the land of the children of Ammon.

3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you really think that David has sent comforters to you to honor your father? has he not instead sent his servants to you, to search the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?

4 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off one half of their beards, and cut their robes in half, at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When David was told, he sent someone to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.

6 ¶ Then when the children of Ammon realized that they stank in David’s opinion, the children of Ammon hired twenty thousand Syrian infantrymen from Bethrehob, and from Zoba, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and from Ishtob twelve thousand men.

7 And when David learned of it, he sent Joab, and all the fighting men.

8 And the children of Ammon came out, and drew up in ranks at the entrance to the gate: and the Syrians from Zoba, and from Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were stationed by themselves in the fields.

9 When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and behind him, he picked some of the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

10 And Joab placed his brother Abishai over the rest of the men, so that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you are to help me: but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 Be of good courage, let us act like men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and may the LORD’S will be done.

13 So Joab, and the men who were with him, approached the Syrians for battle: but they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, then they also fled before Abishai, and ran into the city. Then Joab returned from fighting the children of Ammon, and went to Jerusalem.

15 ¶ But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together.

16 And Hadarezer sent for, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the commander of Hadarezer’s army went before them.

17 And when David was told, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed over the Jordan, and went to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and of the Syrians David slew the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

19 And when all the kings who served Hadarezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to send further aid to the children of Ammon.