1 AFTER this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2 Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him for his father. And David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites.

3 And the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David is honoring your father, that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David rather sent his servants to you to spy out the city and to explore it 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 as far as their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed; and the king said to them, Tarry at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.

6 And when the Ammonites saw that they had acted foolishly toward David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of the son of Rehob and the Arameans of the son of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and of the king of Maacah a thousand men and of Ish-tob twelve thousand footmen.

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

8 And the Ammonites came out and set their men in battle array at the entrance of the gate of Edom the son of Rehob; and the forces of Aram the son of Zobah and Ish-tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9 When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in the front and in the rear, he selected the choice men of Israel and put them in array against Aram;

10 And the rest of the people he placed in the charge of Abishai his brother, and he put them in array against the Ammonites.

11 And he said to Abishai his brother, If the Arameans prove too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

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

13 And Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

14 And when the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, then they fled also before Abishai and entered into the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Arameans saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

16 And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Arameans that were beyond the river Euphrates; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the general of Hadarezer's army went before them.

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. And the Arameans set themselves in array against David, and David fought against them.

18 And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David destroyed one thousand and seven hundred chariots of the Arameans and slew four thousand horsemen and a great many of the people, and he smote Shobach the general of their army, who died there.

19 And when all the kings who were servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the Ammonites any more.