¹ 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 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the 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 be grown, and then return.

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank 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 put the battle in array 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.

⁹ When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of 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 men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

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

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

---

¹ And it came to pass after this, ^H310 that the king ^H4428 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 died, ^H4191 and Hanun ^H2586 his son ^H1121 reigned ^H4427 in his stead.

² Then said ^H559 David, ^H1732 I will shew ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 unto Hanun ^H2586 the son ^H1121 of Nahash, ^H5176 as his father ^H1 shewed ^H6213 kindness ^H2617 unto me. And David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 to comfort ^H5162 him by the hand ^H3027 of his servants ^H5650 for his father. ^H1 And David's ^H1732 servants ^H5650 came ^H935 into the land ^H776 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983

³ And the princes ^H8269 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 said ^H559 unto Hanun ^H2586 their lord, ^H113 Thinkest ^H5869 thou that David ^H1732 doth honour ^H3513 thy father, ^H1 that he hath sent ^H7971 comforters ^H5162 unto thee? hath not David ^H1732 rather sent ^H7971 his servants ^H5650 unto thee, to ^H5668 search ^H2713 the city, ^H5892 and to spy it out, ^H7270 and to overthrow ^H2015 it?

⁴ Wherefore Hanun ^H2586 took ^H3947 David's ^H1732 servants, ^H5650 and shaved off ^H1548 the one half ^H2677 of their beards, ^H2206 and cut off ^H3772 their garments ^H4063 in the middle, ^H2677 even to their buttocks, ^H8357 and sent them away. ^H7971

⁵ When they told ^H5046 it unto David, ^H1732 he sent ^H7971 to meet ^H7125 them, because the men ^H582 were greatly ^H3966 ashamed: ^H3637 and the king ^H4428 said, ^H559 Tarry ^H3427 at Jericho ^H3405 until your beards ^H2206 be grown, ^H6779 and then return. ^H7725

⁶ And when the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 saw ^H7200 that they stank ^H887 before David, ^H1732 the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 sent ^H7971 and hired ^H7936 the Syrians ^H758 of Bethrehob, ^H1050 and the Syrians ^H758 of Zoba, ^H6678 twenty ^H6242 thousand ^H505 footmen, ^H7273 and of king ^H4428 Maacah ^H4601 a thousand ^H505 men, ^H376 and of Ishtob ^H382 twelve ^{H6240 H8147} thousand ^H505 men. ^H376

⁷ And when David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 of it, he sent ^H7971 Joab, ^H3097 and all the host ^H6635 of the mighty men. ^H1368

⁸ And the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 came out, ^H3318 and put the battle ^H4421 in array ^H6186 at the entering in ^H6607 of the gate: ^H8179 and the Syrians ^H758 of Zoba, ^H6678 and of Rehob, ^H7340 and Ishtob, ^H382 and Maacah, ^H4601 were by themselves ^H905 in the field. ^H7704

⁹ When Joab ^H3097 saw ^H7200 that the front ^H6440 of the battle ^H4421 was against him before ^H6440 and behind, ^H268 he chose ^H977 of all the choice ^H977 men of Israel, ^H3478 and put them in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 the Syrians: ^H758

¹⁰ And the rest ^H3499 of the people ^H5971 he delivered ^H5414 into the hand ^H3027 of Abishai ^H52 his brother, ^H251 that he might put them in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983

¹¹ And he said, ^H559 If the Syrians ^H758 be too strong ^H2388 for me, then thou shalt help ^H3444 me: but if the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 be too strong ^H2388 for thee, then I will come ^H1980 and help ^H3467 thee.

¹² Be of good courage, ^H2388 and let us play the men ^H2388 for our people, ^H5971 and for the cities ^H5892 of our God: ^H430 and the LORD ^H3068 do ^H6213 that which seemeth ^H5869 him good. ^H2896

¹³ And Joab ^H3097 drew nigh, ^H5066 and the people ^H5971 that were with him, unto the battle ^H4421 against the Syrians: ^H758 and they fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 him.

¹⁴ And when the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 saw ^H7200 that the Syrians ^H758 were fled, ^H5127 then fled ^H5127 they also before ^H6440 Abishai, ^H52 and entered ^H935 into the city. ^H5892 So Joab ^H3097 returned ^H7725 from the children ^H1121 of Ammon, ^H5983 and came ^H935 to Jerusalem. ^H3389

¹⁵ And when the Syrians ^H758 saw ^H7200 that they were smitten ^H5062 before ^H6440 Israel, ^H3478 they gathered ^H622 themselves together. ^H3162

¹⁶ And Hadarezer ^H1928 sent, ^H7971 and brought out ^H3318 the Syrians ^H758 that were beyond ^H5676 the river: ^H5104 and they came ^H935 to Helam; ^H2431 and Shobach ^H7731 the captain ^H8269 of the host ^H6635 of Hadarezer ^H1928 went before ^H6440 them.

¹⁷ And when it was told ^H5046 David, ^H1732 he gathered ^H622 all Israel ^H3478 together, ^H622 and passed over ^H5674 Jordan, ^H3383 and came ^H935 to Helam. ^H2431 And the Syrians ^H758 set themselves in array ^H6186 against ^H7125 David, ^H1732 and fought ^H3898 with him.

¹⁸ And the Syrians ^H758 fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 Israel; ^H3478 and David ^H1732 slew ^H2026 the men of seven ^H7651 hundred ^H3967 chariots ^H7393 of the Syrians, ^H758 and forty ^H705 thousand ^H505 horsemen, ^H6571 and smote ^H5221 Shobach ^H7731 the captain ^H8269 of their host, ^H6635 who died ^H4191 there.

¹⁹ And when all the kings ^H4428 that were servants ^H5650 to Hadarezer ^H1928 saw ^H7200 that they were smitten ^H5062 before ^H6440 Israel, ^H3478 they made peace ^H7999 with Israel, ^H3478 and served ^H5647 them. So the Syrians ^H758 feared ^H3372 to help ^H3467 the children ^H1121 of Ammon ^H5983 any more.

---

¹ 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 And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

³ But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the 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; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob 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 put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

⁹ Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

¹⁰ And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he 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 ou people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.

¹³ So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

¹⁴ And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

¹⁶ And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

¹⁷ And it was told David; and 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 of the Syrians `the men of' seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.

¹⁹ And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

---

¹ And it cometh to pass afterwards, that the king of the Bene-Ammon dieth, and Hanun his son reigneth in his stead,

² and David saith, `I do kindness with Hanun son of Nahash, as his father did with me kindness;' and David sendeth to comfort him by the hand of his servants concerning his father, and the servants of David come in to the land of the Bene-Ammon.

³ And the heads of the Bene-Ammon say unto Hanun their lord, `Is David honouring thy father in thine eyes because he hath sent to thee comforters? for to search the city, and to spy it, and to overthrow it, hath not David sent his servants unto thee?'

⁴ And Hanun taketh the servants of David, and shaveth off the half of their beard, and cutteth off their long robes in the midst -- unto their buttocks, and sendeth them away;

⁵ and they declare `it' to David, and he sendeth to meet them, for the men have been greatly ashamed, and the king saith, `Abide in Jericho till your beard doth spring up -- then ye have returned.'

⁶ And the Bene-Ammon see that they have been abhorred by David, and the Bene-Ammon send and hire Aram of Beth-Rehob, and Aram of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah `with' a thousand men, and Ish-Tob `with' twelve thousand men;

⁷ and David heareth, and sendeth Joab, and all the host -- the mighty men.

⁸ And the Bene-Ammon come out, and set battle in array, at the opening of the gate, and Aram of Zoba, and Rehob, and Ish-Tob, and Maacah, `are' by themselves in the field;

⁹ and Joab seeth that the front of the battle hath been unto him before and behind, and he chooseth of all the chosen in Israel, and setteth in array to meet Aram,

¹⁰ and the rest of the people he hath given into the hand of Abishai his brother, and setteth in array to meet the Bene-Ammon.

¹¹ And he saith, `If Aram be stronger than I, then thou hast been to me for salvation, and if the Bene-Ammon be stronger than thou, then I have come to give salvation to thee;

¹² be strong and strengthen thyself for our people, and for the cities of our God, and Jehovah doth that which is good in His eyes.'

¹³ And Joab draweth nigh, and the people who `are' with him, to battle against Aram, and they flee from his presence;

¹⁴ and the Bene-Ammon have seen that Aram hath fled, and they flee from the presence of Abishai, and go in to the city; and Joab turneth back from the Bene-Ammon, and cometh in to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And Aram seeth that it is smitten before Israel, and they are gathered together;

¹⁶ and Hadadezer sendeth, and bringeth out Aram which `is' beyond the River, and they come in to Helam, and Shobach head of the host of Hadadezer `is' before them.

¹⁷ And it is declared to David, and he gathereth all Israel, and passeth over the Jordan, and cometh in to Helam, and Aram setteth itself in array to meet David, and they fight with him;

¹⁸ and Aram fleeth from the presence of Israel, and David slayeth of Aram seven hundred charioteers, and forty thousand horsemen, and Shobach head of its host he hath smitten, and he dieth there.

¹⁹ And all the kings -- servants of Hadadezer -- see that they have been smitten before Israel, and make peace with Israel, and serve them; and Aram is afraid to help any more the Bene-Ammon.

---

¹ 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 And David said, I will shew kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness to 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 to Hanun their lord, Is it, in thine eyes, to honour thy father that David has sent comforters to thee? Is it not to search the city and to spy it out, and to overthrow it, that David has sent his servants to thee?

⁴ And Hanun took David's servants, and had the one half of their beards shaved off, and their raiment cut off in the midst, as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.

⁵ And they told [it] to David; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Abide at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

⁶ And the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David; and the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah [with] a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.

⁷ And David heard [of it], and he sent Joab, and all the host, the mighty men.

⁸ And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate; and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

⁹ And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind; and he chose out of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;

¹⁰ and the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother that he might array them against the children of Ammon.

¹¹ And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

¹² Be strong, and let us shew ourselves valiant for our people and for the cities of our God; and Jehovah do what is good in his sight.

¹³ And Joab drew near, and the people that 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 fled, they fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. And Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And when the Syrians saw that they were routed before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

¹⁶ And Hadarezer sent, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

¹⁷ And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, 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 of the Syrians seven hundred [in] chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

¹⁹ And all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were routed before Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

---

¹ It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.

² David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shown kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

³ But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the 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 to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

⁶ When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.

⁷ When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

⁸ The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

⁹ Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

¹⁰ The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.

¹¹ He said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

¹² Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.

¹³ So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

¹⁴ When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

¹⁶ Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.

¹⁷ It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

¹⁸ The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.

¹⁹ When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

---

¹ Now after this, death came to the king of the children of Ammon, and Hanun, his son, became king in his place.

² And David said, I will be a friend to Hanun, the son of Nahash, as his father was a friend to me. So David sent his servants, to give him words of comfort on account of his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

³ But the chiefs of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Does it seem to you that David is honouring your father by sending comforters to you? has he not sent his servants to go through the town and make secret observation of it, and overcome it?

⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, and after cutting off half the hair on their chins, and cutting off the skirts of their robes up to the middle, he sent them away.

⁵ When David had news of it, he sent men out with the purpose of meeting them on their way, for the men were greatly shamed: and the king said, Go to Jericho till your hair is long again, and then come back.

⁶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves hated by David, they sent to the Aramaeans of Beth-rehob and Zobah, and got for payment twenty thousand footmen, and they got from the king of Maacah a thousand men, and from Tob twelve thousand.

⁷ And hearing of this, David sent Joab and all the army and the best fighting-men.

⁸ And the children of Ammon came out and put their forces in position at the way into the town: and the Aramaeans of Zobah and of Rehob, with the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

⁹ Now when Joab saw that their forces were in position against him in front and at his back, he took the best of the men of Israel and put them in line against the Aramaeans;

¹⁰ And the rest of the people he put in position against the children of Ammon, with Abishai, his brother, at their head.

¹¹ And he said, If the Aramaeans are stronger and get the better of me, then you are to come to my help; but if the children of Ammon get the better of you, I will come to your help.

¹² Take heart, and let us be strong for our people and for the towns of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to him.

¹³ Then Joab and the people with him went forward to the fight against the Aramaeans, and they went in flight before him.

¹⁴ And when the children of Ammon saw the flight of the Aramaeans, they themselves went in flight from Abishai, and came into the town. So Joab went back from fighting the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ And when the Aramaeans saw that Israel had overcome them, they got themselves together.

¹⁶ And Hadadezer sent for the Aramaeans who were on the other side of the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach, the captain of Hadadezer's army, at their head.

¹⁷ And word of this was given to David: and he got all Israel together and went over Jordan and came to Helam. And the Aramaeans put their forces in position against David, and made an attack on him.

¹⁸ And the Aramaeans went in flight before Israel; and David put to the sword the men of seven hundred Aramaean war-carriages and forty thousand footmen, and Shobach, the captain of the army, was wounded, and came to his death there.

¹⁹ And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they were overcome by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their servants. So the Aramaeans, in fear, gave no more help to the children of Ammon.