2SA-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.

2SA-10:2 Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the

son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David

sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father.

And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

2SA-10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto

Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy

father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David

[rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to

spy it out, and to overthrow it?

2SA-10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David'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.

2SA-10:5 When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them,

because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry

at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

2SA-10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank

before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians

of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen,

and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand

men.

2SA-10:7 And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the

host of the mighty men.

2SA-10:8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle

in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,

 and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in

the field.

2SA-10:9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against

him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of

Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians:

2SA-10:10 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.

2SA-10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then

thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong

for thee, then I will come and help thee.

2SA-10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our

people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that

which seemeth him good.

2SA-10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with

him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before

him.

2SA-10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians

were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into

the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came

to Jerusalem.

2SA-10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before

Israel, they gathered themselves together.

2SA-10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that

[were] beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the

captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

2SA-10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel

together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the

Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with

him.

2SA-10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew

[the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty

thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host,

who died there.

2SA-10:19 And when all the kings [that were] servants to

Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made

peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to

help the children of Ammon any more.

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