“1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. 2 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. 3 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? 4 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. 5 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.”
“6 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. 7 And when David heard of [it],
he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 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. 9 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. 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.” (2 Samuel 10:1-19 AV)
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