1	And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died# , and Hanun his son reigned# in his stead.
			2	Then said# David, I will shew# kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed# kindness unto me. And David sent# to comfort# him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came# into the land of the children of Ammon.
			3	And the princes of the children of Ammon said# unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour# thy father, that he hath sent# comforters# unto thee? hath not David rather sent# his servants unto thee, to search# the city, and to spy it out# , and to overthrow# it? [Thinkest...: Heb. In thine eyes doth David]
			4	Wherefore Hanun took# David'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# .
			5	When they told# it unto David, he sent# to meet# them, because the men were greatly ashamed# : and the king said# , Tarry# at Jericho until your beards be grown# , and then return# .
			6	And when the children of Ammon saw# that they stank# before David, the children of Ammon sent# and hired# the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve# thousand men. [Ishtob: or, the men of Tob]
			7	And when David heard# of it , he sent# Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
			8	And the children of Ammon came out# , and put the battle in array# at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
			9	When Joab saw# that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose# of all the choice# men of Israel, and put them in array# against# the Syrians:
			10	And the rest of the people he delivered# into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array# against# the children of Ammon.
			11	And he said# , If the Syrians be too strong# for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong# for thee, then I will come# and help# thee.
			12	Be of good courage# , and let us play the men# for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do# that which seemeth him good.
			13	And Joab drew nigh# , and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled# before him.
			14	And when the children of Ammon saw# that the Syrians were fled# , then fled# they also before Abishai, and entered# into the city. So Joab returned# from the children of Ammon, and came# to Jerusalem.
			15	And when the Syrians saw# that they were smitten# before Israel, they gathered# themselves together.
			16	And Hadarezer sent# , and brought out# the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came# to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. [the river: that is, Euphrates] [Shobach: or, Shophach]
			17	And when it was told# David, he gathered# all Israel together# , and passed over# Jordan, and came# to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array# against# David, and fought# with him.
			18	And the Syrians fled# before Israel; and David slew# the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote# Shobach the captain of their host, who died# there. [horsemen: also called, footmen]
			19	And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw# that they were smitten# before Israel, they made peace# with Israel, and served# them. So the Syrians feared# to help# the children of Ammon any more.