II Samuel 10 David defeats the Ammonites and the Syrians

 II Samuel 10

David defeats the Ammonites and the Syrians

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

2 Then David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Naash, as his father he showed kindness to me. And he sent David to comfort him, by the ministry of his servants, concerning his father: and the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3 Then said the princes of the children of Ammon unto their lord Hanun, Doth David honor thy father in thy sight, because he hath sent comforters? Did not David send thee of his servants to recognize this city, and to spy out it, and to overturn it?

4 So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off half their beard, and cut off half their garments, even to the buttocks, and sent them away.

5 He who made known to David sent to find them, because these men were exceedingly ashamed; and the king said, Let yourselves be in Jericho, until your beard grows back; and then come.

6 When the children of Ammon saw that they had become abominable to David, they sent the children of Ammon, and hired from the Syrus of Beth-recob and the Syrus of Zobah twenty thousand men standing, and from the king of Maachah a thousand men and from the Tobe's men twelve thousand men.

7 And David hearing, sent Joab and all the mighty army.

8 And the children of Ammon went out, and commanded the battle at the entrance of the gate: but the Syrians of Zobah and Resh, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were in the field apart.

9 So when Joab saw that the front of the battle was prepared against him, before and behind he chose from among all the chosen ones of Israel, and formed them in line against the Syrians.

10 And the rest of the people delivered into the hand of Abishai their brother, which they formed in line against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, If the Syrians be stronger than I, thou shalt come to my aid; and if the children of Ammon are stronger than you, I will come to your aid.

12 Be strong therefore, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do then that which seems good in his sight.

13 So Joab and the people that were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians; and fled from before him.

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

15 When he saw the Syrians that had been smitten before Israel, they were restored again.

16 And Hadadezer sent, and brought forth the Syrians that were on the other side of the river, and they came to Helam: and Shobak, chief of Hadadezer's host, marched before them.

17 As David informed him, he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helan; and the Syrians set themselves in order against David, and fought with him.

18 But the Syrians fled from before Israel, and David smote from among the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen;

19 When all the kings that were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been ill with Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them; and the Syrians feared to give more help to the children of Ammon.