The Ammonites Dishonor David’s Men

1Now it happened afterwards, that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and his son became king in his place. 2So David said, “I will show lovingkindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed lovingkindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him. 3But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “In your eyes, is David honoring your father because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away. 5Then certain persons went and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly dishonored. And the king said, “[†]Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return.”

6Then the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent [†]1,000 talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7So they hired for themselves 32,000 chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 8Then David heard of it, and he sent Joab and all the army, the mighty men. 9And the sons of Ammon came out and arranged themselves for battle at the entrance of the city. But the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram

10Then Joab saw that the [†]battle was set against him in front and in the rear. So he chose from all the choice men of Israel and [†]they arranged themselves to meet the Arameans. 11But the remainder of the people he put in the hand of [†]Abshai his brother; and they arranged themselves to meet the sons of Ammon. 12And he said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall save me; but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will save you. 13Be strong, and let us show strength for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what is good in His sight.” 14So Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Arameans for the battle, and they fled before him. 15Now the sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans fled. So they themselves also fled before Abshai his brother and came into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16Then the Arameans saw that they had been [†]defeated by Israel. So they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the [†]River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer [†]led them. 17And it was told to David, so he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and arranged for battle against them. So David arranged them in battle to meet the Arameans. And they fought against him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed of the Arameans 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death Shophach the commander of the army. 19Then the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were [†]defeated by Israel. So they made peace with David and served him. And the Arameans were not willing to save the sons of Ammon anymore.