2 Samuel

David’s Messengers Disgraced

1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.

2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

8The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram

9When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

10And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

11“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

13So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.

16Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates,and they came to Helam with Shobachthe commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.

18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers.He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

19When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

1And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon his son reigned in his stead.

2And David said: I Will shew kindness to Hanon the son of Daas, as his father shewed kindness to me. So David sent his servants to comfort him for the death of his father. But when the servants of David were come into the land of the children of Ammon,

3The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanon their lord: Thinkest thou that for the honour of thy father, David hath sent comforters to thee, and hath not David rather sent his servants to thee to search, and spy into the city, and overthrow it?

4Wherefore Hanon took the servants of David, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut away half of their garments even to the buttocks, and sent them away.

5When this was told David, he sent to meet them: for the men were sadly put to confusion, and David commanded them, saying: Stay at Jericho, till your beards be grown, and then return.

6And the children of Ammon seeing that they had done an injury to David, Bent and hired the Syrians of Rohob, and the Syrians of Soba, twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacha a thousand men, and of Istob twelve thousand men.

7And when David heard this, he sent Joab and the whole army of warriors.

8And the children of Ammon came out, and set their men in array at the entering in of the gate: but the Syrians of Soba, and of Rohob, and of Istob, and of Maacha were by themselves in the field.

9Then Joab seeing that the battle was prepared against him, both before and behind, chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

10And the rest of the people he delivered to Abisai his brother, who set them in array against the children of Ammon.

11And Joab 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.

12Be of good courage, and let us fight for our people, and for the city of our God: and the Lord will do what is good in his sight.

13And Joab and the people that were with him, began to fight against the Syrians: and they immediately fled before him.

14And the children of Ammon seeing that the Syrians were fled, they fled also before Abisai, and entered into the city: and Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15Then the Syrians seeing that they had fallen before Israel, gathered themselves together.

16And Adarezer sent and fetched the Syrians, that were beyond the river, and brought over their army: and Sobach, the captain of the host of Adarezer, was their general.

17And when this 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 against him.

18And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen: and smote Sobach the captain of the army, who presently died.

19And all the kings that were auxiliaries of Adarezer, seeing themselves overcome by Israel, were afraid and fled away, eight and fifty thousand men before Israel. And they made peace with Israel: and served them, and all the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.