Kings II 10

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

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

2 And David said, I will shew mercy to Annon the son of Naas, as his father dealt mercifully with me. And David sent to comfort him concerning his father by the hand of his servants; and the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon.

David said, "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 concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Annon their lord, [Is it] to honour thy father before thee that David has sent comforters to thee? Has not David rather sent his servants to thee that they should search the city, and spy it out and examine it?

But the leaders of the people 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 And Annon took the servants of David, and shaved their beards, and cut off their garments in the midst as far as their haunches, and sent them away.

So Hanun took David's servants and shaved off their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 And they brought David word concerning the men; and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonoured: and the king said, Remain in Jericho till your beards have grown, and [then] ye shall return.

When David was told, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."

6 And the children of Ammon saw that the people of David were ashamed; and the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Baethraam, and the Syrians of Suba, and Roob, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Amalec with a thousand men, and Istob with twelve thousand men.

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

7 And David heard, and sent Joab and all his host, [even] the mighty men.

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

8 And the children of Ammon went forth, and set the battle in array by the door of the gate: [those] of Syria, Suba, and Roob, and Istob, and Amalec, being by themselves in the field.

The people of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Arameans of Zobah 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 from that which was opposed in front and from behind, and he chose out [some] of all the young men of Israel, and they set themselves in array against Syria.

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 Arameans:

10 And the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abessa his brother, and they set the battle in array opposite to the children of Ammon.

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

11 And he said, If Syria be too strong for me, then shall ye help me: and if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then will we be ready to help thee.

He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 Be thou courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God, and the Lord shall do that which is good in his eyes.

Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the LORD do that which seems good to him."

13 And Joab and his people with him advanced to battle against Syria, and they fled from before him.

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

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

When the people of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the people of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And the Syrians saw that they were worsted before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.

When the Arameans saw that they were defeated by the children of Israel, they gathered themselves together.

16 And Adraazar sent and gathered the Syrians from the other side of the river Chalamak, and they came to Aelam; and Sobac the captain of the host of Adraazar [was] at their head.

Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.

17 And it was reported to David, and he gathered all Israel, and went over Jordan, and came to Aelam: and the Syrians set the battle in array against David, and fought with him.

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

18 And Syria fled from before Israel, and David destroyed of Syria seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and he smote Sobac the captain of his host, and he died there.

but fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans seven hundred charioteers, and forty thousand foot soldiers, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.

19 And all the kings the servants of Adraazar saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, and they went over to Israel, and served them: and Syria was afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.

When all the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Arameans were afraid to give further aid to the Ammonites.