2 Samuel Chapter 10

2 Samuel Chapter 10
1 After this, 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 his servants to comfort him
for his father. So 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 to
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 half of their
beard, and cut off their garments in the
middle, even to their buttocks, and sent
them away.
5 When it was told unto David, he sent
to meet them (for the men were
exceedingly ashamed) and the king said,
Tarry at Jericho, until your beards be
grown, then return.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw
that they stank in the sight of David, the
children of Ammon sent and hired the
Aramites of the house of Rehob, and the
Aramites of Zoba, twenty thousand
footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand
men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand
men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent
Joab, and all the host of the strong men.
8 And the children of Ammon came out,
and put their army in array at the entering
in of the gate: and the Aramites of Zoba,
and of Rehob, and of Ishtob, and of
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 of
Israel, and put them in array against the
Aramites.
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 Aramites be
stronger than I, thou shalt help me, and if
the children of Ammon be too strong for
thee, I will come and succor thee. 12 Be
strong and let us be valiant for our
people, and for the cities of our God,
and let the Lord do that which is good in
his eyes.
13 Then Joab, and the people that was
with him, joined in battle with the
Aramites, who fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon
saw that the Aramites fled, they fled also
before Abishai, and entered into the city.
So Joab returned from the children of
Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 And when the Aramites saw that they
were smitten before Israel, they gathered
them together.
16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out
the Aramites that were beyond the river:
and they came to Helam, and Shobach
the captain of the host of Hadarezer went
before them.
17 When it was showed David, then he
gathered all Israel together, and passed
over Jordan and came to Helam: and the
Aramites set themselves in array against
David, and fought with him:
18 And the Aramites fled before Israel:
and David destroyed seven hundred
chariots of the Aramites, and forty
thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach
the captain of his host, who died there.
19 And when all the kings, that were
servants to Hadarezer, saw that they fell
before Israel, they made peace with
Israel, and served them. and the
Aramites feared to help the children of
Ammon any more.