10 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 show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed 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 honor 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 Therefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off 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 are grown, and then return.”

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they were a stench 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 set up in battle array at the entrance to 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 line was against him before and behind, he chose from 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 man for our people and for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth to Him good.”

¹³ And Joab drew nigh, and the people who 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 had 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 Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river, and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.

¹⁷ And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and passed over the 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 who were servants to Hadadezer 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.

19 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

² And David said, “I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him.

³ But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, “Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Are not his servants come unto thee to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?”

⁴ Therefore Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle by their buttocks, and sent them away.

⁵ Then went certain ones and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Tarry at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia and from Syriamaachah and from Zobah.

⁷ So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched camp before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities and came to battle.

⁸ And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.

⁹ And the children of Ammon came out and assembled in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ Now when Joab saw that the battle line was formed against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

¹¹ And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

¹² And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

¹³ Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God; and let the Lord do that which is good in His sight.”

¹⁴ So Joab and the people who were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle, and they fled before him.

¹⁵ And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians who were beyond the river; and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.

¹⁷ And it was told to David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over the Jordan and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

¹⁸ But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men who fought in chariots and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

¹⁹ And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants; neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob defend thee!

² May He send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion.

³ May He remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Selah

⁴ May He grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfill all thy counsel.

⁵ We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners; the Lord fulfill all thy petitions!

⁶ Now I know that the Lord saveth His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

⁸ They are brought down and fallen; but we are risen and stand upright.

⁹ Save us, Lord! Let the King hear us when we call.