1 And it came to pass1961 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 unto5973 Hanun2586 the son1121 of Nahash,5176 as834 his father1 showed6213 kindness2617 unto5973 me. And David1732 sent7971 to comfort5162 him by the hand3027 of his servants5650 for413 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 unto413 Hanun2586 their lord,113 Thinkest5869 thou that David1732 doth honor3513 853 thy father,1 that3588 he hath sent7971 comforters5162 unto thee? hath not3808 David1732 rather sent7971 853 his servants5650 unto413 thee, to5668 search2713 853 the city,5892 and to spy it out,7270 and to overthrow2015 it?

4 Wherefore Hanun2586 took3947 David's1732 853 servants,5650 and shaved off1548 the853 one half2677 of their beards,2206 and cut off3772 853 their garments4063 in the middle,2677 even to5704 their buttocks,8357 and sent them away.7971

5 When they told5046 it unto David,1732 he sent7971 to meet7125 them, because3588 the men376 were1961 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 that3588 they stank887 before David,1732 the children1121 of Ammon5983 sent7971 and hired7936 853 the Syrians758 of Beth-rehob,1050 and the Syrians758 of Zoba,6678 twenty6242 thousand505 footmen,7273 and of king4428 Maacah4601 a thousand505 men,376 and of Ish-tob382 twelve8147 6240 thousand505 men.376

7 And when David1732 heard8085 of it, he sent7971 853 Joab,3097 and all3605 the host6635 of the mighty men.1368

8 And the children1121 of Ammon5983 came out,3318 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 that3588 the front6440 of the battle4421 was1961 against413 him before4480 6440 and behind,4480 268 he chose977 of all4480 3605 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 for4480 me, then thou shalt1961 help3444 me: but if518 the children1121 of Ammon5983 be too strong2388 for4480 thee, then I will come1980 and help3467 thee.

12 Be of good courage,2388 and let us play the men2388 for1157 our people,5971 and for1157 the cities5892 of our God:430 and the LORD3068 do6213 that which seemeth5869 him good.2896

13 And Joab3097 drew nigh,5066 and the people5971 that834 were with5973 him, unto the battle4421 against the Syrians:758 and they fled5127 before4480 6440 him.

14 And when the children1121 of Ammon5983 saw7200 that3588 the Syrians758 were fled,5127 then fled5127 they also before4480 6440 Abishai,52 and entered935 into the city.5892 So Joab3097 returned7725 from4480 5921 the children1121 of Ammon,5983 and came935 to Jerusalem.3389

15 And when the Syrians758 saw7200 that3588 they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel,3478 they gathered themselves622 together.3162

16 And Hadarezer1928 sent,7971 and brought out3318 853 the Syrians758 that834 were beyond4480 5676 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 gathered all Israel together,622 853 3605 3478 and passed over5674 853 Jordan,3383 and came935 to Helam.2431 And the Syrians758 set themselves in array6186 against7125 David,1732 and fought3898 with5973 him.

18 And the Syrians758 fled5127 before4480 6440 Israel;3478 and David1732 slew2026 the men of seven7651 hundred3967 chariots7393 of the Syrians,4480 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 that3588 they were smitten5062 before6440 Israel,3478 they made peace7999 with854 Israel,3478 and served5647 them. So the Syrians758 feared3372 to help3467 853 the children1121 of Ammon5983 any more.5750