Second Samuel Chapter 10
1 After this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his stead.
2 David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. David sent to comfort him for his father by the hand of his servants. David's servants came to the land of the children of Ammon.
3 The leaders 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 sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?
4 Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half their beards and cut off their garments in the middle to their buttocks and sent them away.
5 They told David and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown and return.
6 The children of Ammon saw that they had begun to stink before David and they hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 soldiers⁺, and from King Maacah a thousand men and from Ishtob 12,000 men.
7 David heard this and sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
8 The children of Ammon came out and put the battle in order at the entering in of the gate. The Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and Ishtob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9 Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind. He chose from all the choice ones of Israel and put them in order against the Syrians.
10 The rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother so that he might set in order against the children of Ammon.
11 He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you will 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, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what seems good to Him.
13 Joab and the people with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians and they fled before him.
14 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15 The Syrians saw that they were beaten before Israel and they gathered together.
16 Hadarezer brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river and they came to Helam. Shobach the commander of the army of Hadarezer went before them.
17 When David was told, he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in order to meet David and fought with him.
18 The Syrians fled before Israel and David killed the men of 700 chariots of the Syrians and 40,000 horsemen and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there.
19 All the kings, the servants of Hadarezer, saw that they were beaten before Israel, and they made peace with Israel and served them. The Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.