1And it came to pass after this, that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2And David said, "I will do kindness with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father did kindness with me." And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants concerning his father. And the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon.
3And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Is David honoring your father in your eyes, that he has sent comforters to you? Has not David sent his servants to you in order to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"
4And Hanun took the servants of David, and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, up to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5And they told David, and he sent to meet them, for the men (ish) were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return."
6And the sons of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, and the sons of Ammon sent and hired Aram of Beth-rehob, and Aram of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah a thousand men (ish), and the men (ish) of Tob twelve thousand men (ish).
7And David heard, and sent Joab, and all the host, the mighty men.
8And the sons of Ammon came out, and arranged battle at the entrance of the gate; and Aram of Zobah, and Rehob, and the men (ish) of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9And Joab saw that the face of the battle was against him, in front and behind; and he chose from all the choice men of Israel, and arranged them against Aram.
10And the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he arranged them against the sons of Ammon.
11And he said, "If Aram is stronger than I, then you shall be a salvation (yeshuah) to me; but if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you, then I will go to save (yasha) you.
12Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people, and for the cities of our God; and YHWH will do that which is good in his eyes."
13And Joab drew near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against Aram; and they fled before him.
14And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled, and they fled before Abishai, and came into the city. And Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15And Aram saw that it was struck down before Israel, and they gathered themselves together.
16And Hadadezer sent, and brought out Aram that was beyond the River; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer before them.
17And it was told David, and he gathered all Israel, and crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And Aram arranged themselves against David, and fought with him.
18And Aram fled before Israel; and David slew of Aram seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and he smote Shobach the captain of his host, so that he died there.
19And all the kings, the servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were struck down before Israel, and they made peace with Israel, and served them (avad). And Aram feared to save (yasha) the sons of Ammon any more.