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

Now it came about after this, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place.

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.

Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to console him.

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 sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “ Do you think that David is honoring your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and 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.

So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, 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.”

Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “ Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, 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 sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent 1, 000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from 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 for themselves 32, 000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together 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, the 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.

The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field. Ammon and Aram Defeated

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.

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel and they arrayed themselves against the Arameans.

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.

But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed themselves against the sons of Ammon.

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.

He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then 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 strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of 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 to the battle against the Arameans, 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.

When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abshai his brother and entered 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 Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer leading them.

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.

When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up in formation against them. And when David drew up in battle array against the Arameans, they fought against 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.

The Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7, 000 charioteers and 40, 000 foot soldiers, and put to death 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.

So when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. Thus the Arameans were not willing to help the sons of Ammon anymore.