Chapter 10

And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died,⁴ and Hanun his son reigned⁴ in his stead.

Then said⁴ David, I will shew⁴ kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed¹ kindness unto me. And David sent⁴ to comfort¹⁵ him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came⁴ into the land of the children of Ammon.

And the princes of the children of Ammon said⁴ unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour¹⁸ thy father, that he hath sent¹ comforters¹⁸ unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent¹ his servants unto thee, to search² the city, and to spy it out,¹⁵ and to overthrow² it?

Wherefore Hanun took⁴ David's servants, and shaved off¹⁷ the one half of their beards, and cut off⁴ their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.¹⁷

When they told⁵⁵ [it] unto David, he sent⁴ to meet² them, because the men were greatly ashamed:¹² and the king said,⁴ Tarry³ at Jericho until your beards be grown,¹⁷ and [then] return.¹

And when the children of Ammon saw⁴ that they stank⁸ before David, the children of Ammon sent⁴ and hired⁴ the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve ⁸¹⁴⁷ thousand men.

And when David heard⁴ of [it], he sent⁴ Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

And the children of Ammon came out,⁴ and put the battle in array⁴ at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.

When Joab saw⁴ that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose⁴ of all the choice⁷ [men] of Israel, and put [them] in array⁴ against² the Syrians:

And the rest of the people he delivered¹ into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put [them] in array⁴ against² the children of Ammon.

And he said,⁴ If the Syrians be too strong⁴ for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong⁴ for thee, then I will come¹ and help⁵³ thee.

Be of good courage,³ and let us play the men¹⁰¹ for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do⁴ that which seemeth him good.

And Joab drew nigh,⁴ and the people that [were] with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled⁴ before him.

And when the children of Ammon saw¹ that the Syrians were fled,¹ then fled⁴ they also before Abishai, and entered⁴ into the city. So Joab returned⁴ from the children of Ammon, and came⁴ to Jerusalem.

And when the Syrians saw⁴ that they were smitten⁸ before Israel, they gathered¹¹ themselves together.

And Hadarezer sent,⁴ and brought out⁵⁵ the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and they came⁴ to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

And when it was told⁹³ David, he gathered⁴ all Israel together, and passed over⁴ Jordan, and came⁴ to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array⁴ against² David, and fought¹¹ with him.

And the Syrians fled⁴ before Israel; and David slew⁴ [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote⁵² Shobach the captain of their host, who died⁴ there.

And when all the kings [that were] servants to Hadarezer saw⁴ that they were smitten⁸ before Israel, they made peace⁵⁵ with Israel, and served⁴ them. So the Syrians feared⁴ to help⁵³ the children of Ammon any more.