1Later King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun because his father Nahash showed me kindness." So David sent messengers to comfort Hanun after his father's [death]. But when David's servants entered Ammonite territory to comfort Hanun, 3the Ammonite princes asked Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Haven't his servants come to explore, destroy, and spy on the country?" 4So Hanun took David's men, shaved them, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away. 5After people told David [what had happened] to the men, he sent [someone] to meet them because they were deeply humiliated. The king said to them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return [to Jerusalem]."

6The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and horses from the Arameans in Upper Mesopotamia, Maacah, and Zobah. 7They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army. They camped near Medeba. The Ammonites gathered for the battle from their cities. 8After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops. 9The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the city, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the kings who had come remained by themselves in the open country.

10When Joab saw he was under attack in front and behind, he took the select troops of Israel and organized them for combat against the Arameans. 11He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the troops. They organized for combat against the Ammonites. 12Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for my [troops], be ready to help me. And if the Ammonites are too strong for your [troops], I'll help you. 13Be strong! Let's prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God, and the LORD will do what he considers right." 14Then Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, and the Arameans fled. 15When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they, too, fled from Joab's brother Abishai and went into the city. So Joab returned to Jerusalem.

16Realizing that Israel had defeated them, the kings sent [messengers] to get [other] Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. 17When David was told [about this], he assembled Israel's army, crossed the Jordan, and confronted them. David formed a battle line against the Arameans, and they fought him. 18The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed 7,000 chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. David also killed Shophach. 19When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that Israel had defeated them, they made peace with David and became his subjects. And the Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.