Subjugation of Ammon and Aram^(A)

19 Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died and his son succeeded him, ² so David told himself, “I will be loyal to Nahash’s son Hanun, since his father showed loyal, gracious love to me.” So David sent a delegation^[a] to console him about his loss of his^[b] father.

But when David’s delegation arrived to visit^[c] Hanun in Ammonite territory to console him, ³ the Ammonite officials asked Hanun, “Do you think that because David has sent a delegation of consolers to you that he is honoring your father? His delegation has arrived to search, overthrow, and scout the land, hasn’t it?” ⁴ So Hanun arrested David’s delegation, shaved off their beards, cut off their clothes at the waist line, and sent them away in disgrace.^[d]

⁵ After they had departed, David was informed about the men, so he sent word^[e] to them, since they had been deeply humiliated. He told them, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”