1It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his son reigned in his stead.
2Then said David: I will shew kindness unto Hanon the son of Nahas, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And thereupon David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants over the death of his father. Now when David's servants were come into the land of the children of Ammon,
3the lords of the children of Ammon said unto Hanon their lord: thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, because he hath sent to comfort thee? Nay, he hath rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city and to spy it out, even to overthrow it.
4Wherefore Hanon took David's servants and shaved off the one half of every man's beard and cut off their garments even in the middle, even hard by the buttocks of them and sent them away.
5When it was told David he sent against them (for they were men exceedingly ashamed) and said: tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank unto David, they sent and hired the sons of Bethrehob of the Sirians of Zobah twenty thousand footmen and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Istob twelve thousand men.
7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of strong men.
8And the children of Ammon came out and waged battle before the gate and the Sirians of Zobah, of Rehob, Istob and Maacah were by themselves in the fields.
9When Joab saw that the front of the battle was before and after, he chose of all the best of Israel and put them in array against the Sirians.
10And the rest of the people he delivered in the hand of Abisai his brother, which put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11And he said: if the Sirians overcome me, then succour me. But if the children of Ammon be too good for thee, I will come and succour thee,
12quite thee like a man, and let us fight lustily for our people and for the cities of our God. And the LORD do what seemeth best in his eyes.
13And forthwith Joab proceeded and the people that was with him into battle against the Sirians, which fled before him.
14And when the children of Ammon saw that the Sirians were fled, then fled they also before Abisai, and entered into the city. And so Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15And when the Sirians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered them together.
16And Adadezer sent and brought out the Sirians that were beyond the river. And the host of them came, and Sobah the captain of the host of Hadadezer before them.
17And when it was shewed David, he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan and came to Helam: where the Sirians put themselves in array against David and fought with him:
18how be it the Sirians fled before Israel. And David destroyed seven hundredth chariots of them and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Sobah the captain of his host, that he there died.
19And when all the kings that were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with them and served them. And so the Sirians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.