David’s Campaign against the Ammonites

19 Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him. ² David said, “I will express my loyalty^[a] to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal^[b] to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death.^[c] When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy,^{[d] 3} the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy?^[e] No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!”^{[f] 4} So Hanun seized David’s servants and shaved their beards off.^[g] He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed^[h] and then sent them away. ⁵ People^[i] came and told David what had happened to the men, so he sent messengers to meet them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, “Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back.”