1And it came to pass after this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son Hanun reigned in his stead. 2And David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." And David sent to comfort him for his father by the hand of his servants. And David's servants came to the land of the children of Ammon. 3And the leaders of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David honors your father, that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?" 4And Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half their beards and cut off their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and sent them away 5And they told David and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and return."

6And the children of Ammon saw that they had begun to be odious before David. And the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and from King Maacah a thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. 7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 8And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in order at the entering in of the gate. And the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and Ish-Tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

9And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind. And he selected from all the choice ones of Israel and put them in battle order against the Syrians. 10And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, so that he might set in battle order against the children of Ammon. 11And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me. But if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12Be of good courage, and let us be strong men for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do that which seems good to Him." 13And Joab and the people with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians. And they fled before him. 14And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, then they fled also before Abishai, and entered into the city. And Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.

15And the Syrians saw that they were beaten before Israel, and they gathered together. 16And Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river. And they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of the army of Hadarezer went before them. 17When David was told this, he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle order to meet David and fought with him. 18And the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, who died there. 19When all the kings, the servants of Hadarezer, saw that they were beaten before Israel, then they made peace with Israel and served them. And the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.