1 A fter this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. And his son became king in his place.

After this, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2 D avid said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent men to bring him comfort in his sorrow for his father. David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon, to bring him comfort.

David said, I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father’s death. So the servants of David came into the land of the Ammonites to comfort Hanun.

3 B ut the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is giving honor to your father by sending men to comfort you? Have not his servants come to spy out the land and destroy it?”

But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, Do you think that David has sent comforters to you because he honors your father? Have his servants not come to you to search, to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

4 S o Hanun took David’s servants and cut the hair from their faces. Then he cut off the bottom half of their clothing, and sent them away.

Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle near their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 W hen David was told what had happened to his servants, he sent men out to meet them because the workmen were very ashamed. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces, and then return.”

When David was told how the men were served, he sent to meet them, for were greatly shamed and embarrassed. The king said, Stay in Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return.

6 T he sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves to be hated by David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent silver weighing as much as 1, 000 men, to get war-wagons and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves hateful to David, Hanun and sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia and Aram-maacah and Zobah.

7 T hey paid for 32, 000 war-wagons and for the king of Maacah and his army who came and set up their tents by Medeba. Then the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle.

So they hired 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his troops, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered from their cities and came to battle.

8 W hen David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of his strong men.

When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of mighty men.

9 T he sons of Ammon came out and were ready for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

And the Ammonites came out and lined up in battle array before the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

10 J oab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind. So he chose some of the best men of Israel and they made themselves ready to fight the Syrians.

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose from all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.

11 B ut he had his brother Abishai lead the rest of the men. And they made themselves ready to fight the sons of Ammon.

The rest of the soldiers he delivered to Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.

12 J oab said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.

And he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will help you.

13 B e strong; let us show our strength of heart because of our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what is good in His eyes.”

Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.

14 S o Joab and the men who were with him came near to fight against the Syrians. And the Syrians ran away from him.

So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for battle, and they fled before him.

15 T he sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians ran away. So they ran away from Joab’s brother Abishai, and went into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 T he Syrians saw that they had lost the war with Israel. So they sent men with news, and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River. Shophach the captain of Hadadezer’s army was leading them.

When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

17 W hen David was told about it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. He came to them, and made his army ready to fight against them. When David made his army ready for battle, the Syrians fought against him.

It was told to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan and drew up his army against them. So when David set the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

18 A nd the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 7, 000 Syrians who drove war-wagons and 40, 000 Syrian foot soldiers. And he killed Shophach the captain of the army.

But the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians 7, 000 men in chariots and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.

19 H adadezer’s servants saw that they had lost the war against Israel. So they made peace with David and worked for him. The Syrians were not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.

When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him; nor would the Syrians any longer help the Ammonites.