1 And it came1961 to pass after310 this,3651 that the king4428 of the children1121 of Ammon5983 died,4191 and Hanun2586 his son1121 reigned4427 in his stead.8478

2 Then said559 David,1732 I will show6213 kindness2617 to Hanun2586 the son1121 of Nahash,5176 as his father1 showed6213 kindness2617 to me. And David1732 sent7971 to comfort5162 him by the hand3027 of his servants5650 for his father.1 And David's1732 servants5650 came935 into the land776 of the children1121 of Ammon.5983

3 And the princes8269 of the children1121 of Ammon5983 said559 to Hanun2586 their lord,113 Think5869 you that David1732 does honor3513 your father,1 that he has sent7971 comforters5162 to you? has not David1732 rather sent7971 his servants5650 to you, to search2713 the city,5892 and to spy7270 it out, and to overthrow2015 it?

4 Why Hanun2586 took3947 David's1732 servants,5650 and shaved1548 off the one half2677 of their beards,2206 and cut3772 off their garments4063 in the middle,2677 even to their buttocks,8357 and sent7971 them away.

5 When they told5046 it to David,1732 he sent7971 to meet7125 them, because3588 the men582 were greatly3966 ashamed:3637 and the king4428 said,559 Tarry3427 at Jericho3405 until5704 your beards2206 be grown,6779 and then return.7725

6 And when the children1121 of Ammon5983 saw7200 that they stank887 before David,1732 the children1121 of Ammon5983 sent7971 and hired7936 the Syrians758 of Bethrehob 1050and the Syrians758 of Zoba,6678 twenty6242 thousand505 footmen,7273 and of king4428 Maacah4601 a thousand505 men,376 and of Ishtob382 twelve8147 6240 thousand505 men.376

7 And when David1732 heard8085 of it, he sent7971 Joab,3097 and all3605 the host6635 of the mighty1368 men.

8 And the children1121 of Ammon5983 came3318 out, and put the battle4421 in array6186 at the entering6607 in of the gate:8179 and the Syrians758 of Zoba,6678 and of Rehob,7340 and Ishtob,382 and Maacah,4601 were by themselves905 in the field.7704

9 When Joab3097 saw7200 that the front6440 of the battle4421 was against413 him before6440 and behind,268 he chose977 of all3605 the choice977 men of Israel,3478 and put them in array6186 against7125 the Syrians:758

10 And the rest3499 of the people5971 he delivered5414 into the hand3027 of Abishai52 his brother,251 that he might put them in array6186 against7125 the children1121 of Ammon.5983

11 And he said,559 If518 the Syrians758 be too strong2388 for me, then you shall help3444 me: but if518 the children1121 of Ammon5983 be too strong2388 for you, then I will come1980 and help3467 you.

12 Be of good courage,2388 and let us play the men2388 for our people,5971 and for the cities5892 of our God:430 and the LORD3068 do6213 that which seems5869 him good.2896

13 And Joab3097 drew near,5066 and the people5971 that were with him, to the battle4421 against the Syrians:758 and they fled5127 before6440 him.

14 And when the children1121 of Ammon5983 saw7200 that the Syrians758 were fled,5127 then fled5127 they also before6440 Abishai,52 and entered935 into the city.5892 So Joab3097 returned7725 from the children1121 of Ammon,5983 and came935 to Jerusalem.3389

15 And when the Syrians758 saw7200 that they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel,3478 they gathered622 themselves together.3162

16 And Hadarezer1928 sent,7971 and brought3318 out the Syrians758 that were beyond5676 the river:5104 and they came935 to Helam;2431 and Shobach7731 the captain8269 of the host6635 of Hadarezer1928 went before6440 them.

17 And when it was told5046 David,1732 he gathered622 all3605 Israel3478 together, and passed5674 over5674 Jordan,3383 and came935 to Helam.2431 And the Syrians758 set themselves in array6186 against7125 David,1732 and fought3898 with him.

18 And the Syrians758 fled5127 before6440 Israel;3478 and David1732 slew2126 the men of seven7651 hundred3967 chariots7393 of the Syrians,758 and forty705 thousand505 horsemen,6571 and smote5221 Shobach7731 the captain8269 of their host,6635 who died4191 there.8033

19 And when all3605 the kings4428 that were servants5650 to Hadarezer1928 saw7200 that they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel,3478 they made peace7999 with Israel,3478 and served5647 them. So the Syrians758 feared3372 to help3467 the children1121 of Ammon5983 any more.5750