Hanun Disgraces David's Servants
David sends condolences to Ammon's new king, whose advisers convince him the envoys are spies. Their beards are half-shaved and robes cut off at the hip. Ammon hires Aramean armies; Joab splits his forces with Abishai, then leaves the outcome to our Father.
10 1Later, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place. 2David said, "I'll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So he sent servants to console him over his father's death. But when David's servants reached Ammonite territory, 3the Ammonite commanders told Hanun their lord, "Do you really think David honors your father by sending you men to console you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?"
4Hanun seized David's servants, shaved half of each man's beard, cut their garments off at the hips, and sent them away. 5When David was told, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men were deeply ashamed. The king said, "Stay in Jericho till your beards regrow, then return."
6Seeing they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah—20,000 foot soldiers—the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob with 12,000 men. 7On hearing this, David sent Joab with the entire army of fighting men. 8The Ammonites came out and formed battle lines at the entrance to the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah stood apart in the open field.
9Joab saw that the battle lines faced him on both front and back, so he chose some of Israel's best and lined them up against the Arameans. 10He put the rest under his brother Abishai's command, to line up against the Ammonites. 11Joab said, "If Aram overpowers me, rescue me; if the Ammonites overpower you, I'll rescue you. 12Be strong, let's be courageous for our people and our Father's cities. May our Father do what seems good to him." 13Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they too fled before Abishai and entered the city. So Joab withdrew from the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15When the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. 16Hadadezer summoned the Arameans beyond the Euphrates; they came to Helam, with Shobach, commander of Hadadezer's army, leading them. 17When David heard, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and reached Helam. The Arameans lined up against David and fought him. 18But the Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 of their charioteers and 40,000 horsemen, then struck down Shobach, their army commander, who died there. 19When all Hadadezer's vassal kings saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites again.
