Shmuel II - Chapter 10

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 shall show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, just as his father showed me kindness. And David sent to comfort him through 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: "Do you think that David honors your father that he sent you comforters? Is it not in order to investigate the city and to spy it out, and to search it that David has sent his servants to you?"

4. And Hanun took David's servants and he shaved off a half of their beards, and he cut off their garments in half up to their buttocks, and he sent them away.

5. And they told it to David; and he sent to meet them; for the men were very much ashamed. And the king said: 'Remain seated in Jericho until your beards grow, and then you shall return.'

6. And the children of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David; and the children of Ammon sent and hired [of] the Arameans of Beth-rehob, and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand footsoldiers, and [of] the king of Maacah, a thousand men, and [of] Ish-tov, twelve thousand men.

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

8. And the children of Ammon came out, and they prepared the battle at the entrance of the gate; and the Arameans of Zobah, and Rehob, and Ish-tov, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9. And Joab saw that the battle front was before and behind him: and he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel and he sent them against the Arameans.

10. And the rest of the people he gave over to Abishai his brother, and he set (them) against the children of Ammon.

11. And he said: "If the Arameans will be too strong for me, then you shall help me, and if the children of Ammon will be too strong for you, then I shall go to your aid.

12. Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves on behalf of our people, and on behalf of the cities of our God: and [then] may God do what is good in his eyes."

13. And Joab and the people that were with him drew forward to do battle against the Arameans, and they fled before him.

14. And [when] the children of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, then they [likewise] fled from before Abishai, and they came to the city. And Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15. And the Arameans saw that they were smitten before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.

16. And Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Arameans that were from beyond the River; and they came to Helam, and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer, before them.

17. And it was told to David; and he gathered together all Israel, and he crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans set themselves against David, and fought with him.

18. And the Arameans fled before Israel; and David slew of the Arameans, seven hundred chariots, and forty-thousand horsemen, and Shobach the captain of his host he smote, and he died there.

19. And all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, and they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Arameans feared to aid the children of Ammon any more.