2 Samuel 10:1-9 ▼

1 Later the king of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

2 David thought, |I will show kindness to Hanun as his father Nahash showed me kindness.| So David sent his servants to comfort Hanun after his father's [death]. But when David's servants entered Ammonite territory,

3 the Ammonite princes asked their master Hanun, |Do you think David is honoring your father because he sent men to comfort you? Hasn't David sent his men to explore the city, spy on it, and destroy it?|

4 So Hanun took David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their clothes from the waist down, and sent them away.

5 After David was told [what had happened], 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].|

6 The Ammonites realized that they had made themselves offensive to David. So they hired the Arameans from Beth Rehob and Zobah the king of Maacah

7 After David heard about this, he sent Joab and all the elite troops.

8 The Ammonites formed a battle line at the entrance of the [city] gate, while the Arameans from Zobah and Rehob and the men from Tob and Maacah remained by themselves in the open country.

9 When 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.