2 Samuel 10

1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanon 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 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,

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 The 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?

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 Wherefore 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.

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 When 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.

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 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.

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

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

8 And 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.

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 Then 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:

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 delivered to Abisai his brother, who set them in array against 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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

16 And 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.