2 Samuel 10

Ammon and Aram Defeated

11Now it happened afterwards that 2the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son became king in his place. 2Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of 3Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent 4some of his servants to console him concerning his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “5Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent consolers to you? 6Has David not sent his servants to you in order to search the city, to spy it out and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants and 7shaved off half of their beards, and 8cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, “9Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”

6Now when the sons of Ammon saw that 10they had become odious to David, the sons of Ammon sent and 11hired the Arameans of 12Beth-rehob and the 13Arameans of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of 14Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 8The sons of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array 15at the entrance of the 16city, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of 17Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.

9Now when Joab saw that 18the battle was set against him in front and in the rear, he selected from all the choice men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans. 10But the remainder of the people he placed in the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the sons of Ammon. 11He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. 1219Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and 20may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” 13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Arameans, and 21they fled before him. 14When the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled, they also fled before Abishai and entered the city. 22Then Joab returned from fighting against the sons of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15When the Arameans saw that they had been 23defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 1624And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the 25River, and they came to Helam; and 26Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer 27led them. 17Now when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans arrayed themselves to meet David and fought against him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 28700 charioteers of the Arameans and 40,000 horsemen and struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were 29defeated by Israel, 30they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the sons of Ammon anymore.