1. And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2. Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to 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.
3. And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, that he has sent comforters to you? has not David rather sent his servants to you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4. Therefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5. When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6. And 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 Ishtob twelve thousand men.
7. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.
8. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose some of the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10. And 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.
11. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12. Be of good courage, and let us act like men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and may the LORD do that which seems good to him.
13. And Joab drew near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15. And when the Syrians saw that they were stricken before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.
17. And 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.
18. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there.
19. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were stricken before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.