It happened after this, that the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2Dawud said, I will show kindness to Hanun Ibn Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So Dawud sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. Dawud’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites. 3But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that Dawud honours your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn’t Dawud sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? 4So Hanun took Dawud’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. 5When they told it to Dawud, he sent to meet them; for the men were very ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return. 6When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to Dawud, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men. 7WhenDawud heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8The Ammonites came out, and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field. 9Now when Joab saw that the battleline was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians: 10He committed the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the Ammonites. 11He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and may Allah do that which is good in his sight. 13So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and the Syrians fled before him. 14When the Ammonites saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem. 15When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians from beyond the Euphrates River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer at their head. 17It was told Dawud; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against Dawud, and fought with him. 18The Syrians fled before Israel; and Dawud killed of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck down Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there. 19When all the kings who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.