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 Then said Dawid, “I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me.” And Dawid sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And Dawid’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 (adon), “Thinkest you that Dawid doth honor your father, that he hath sent comforters unto you? Hath not Dawid rather sent his servants unto you, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”

4 Wherefore Hanun took Dawid’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5 When they told it unto Dawid, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed; and the king said, “Tarry at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.”

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before Dawid, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians (Arammim) of Bethrehob, and the Syrians (Arammim) of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of King Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-Tov twelve thousand men.

7 And when Dawid heard of it, he sent Yoav, and all the army of the mighty men.

8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate; and the Syrians (Arammim) of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-Tov, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9 When Yoav saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yisrael, and put them in array against the Syrians (Arammim).

10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Avishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, “If the Syrians (Arammim) be too strong for me, then you shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God (Elohim); and יהוה do that which seemeth Him good.”

13 And Yoav drew near, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians (Arammim); and they fled before him.

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians (Arammim) were fled, then fled they also before Avishai, and entered into the city. So Yoav returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).

15 And when the Syrian (Arammi) saw that they were smitten before Yisrael, they gathered themselves together.

16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrias (Aram) that were beyond the river; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer went before them.

17 And when it was told Dawid, he gathered all Yisrael together, and passed over Jordan (Yarden), and came to Helam. And the Syrians (Arammim) set themselves in array against Dawid, and fought with him.

18 And the Syrians (Arammim) fled before Yisrael; and Dawid slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians (Arammim), and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their army, who died there.

19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Yisrael, they made peace with Yisrael, and served them. So the Syrians (Arammim) feared to help the children of Ammon anymore.