-
And it
came to pass after this, that the king of the
children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned
in his stead.
02 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto
Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed
kindness unto 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.
03 And the princes of the children of Ammon said
unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David
doth honour thy father, that he hath sent
comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent
his servants unto thee, to search the city, and
to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
04 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and
shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut
off their garments in the middle, even to their
buttocks, and sent them away.
05 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet
them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and
the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards
be grown, and then return.
06 And when the children of Ammon saw that they
stank before David, the children of Ammon sent
and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the
Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of
king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve
thousand men.
07 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and
all the host of the mighty men.
08 And the children of Ammon came out, and put
the battle in array at the entering in of the
gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and
Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the
field.
09 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was
against him before and behind, he chose of all
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.
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11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for
me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children
of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come
and help thee.
12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men
for our people, and for the cities of our God:
and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.
13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were
with him, unto the battle against the Syrians:
and they fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the
Syrians were 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
smitten 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 host 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 smote
Shobach the captain of their host, who died
there.
19 And when all the kings that were servants to
Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before
Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served
them. So the Syrians feared to help the children
of Ammon any more.
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