2 SamuelChapter 10
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1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died. His son Hanun became king after him. 2David said, "I will be kind to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father was kind to me." So David sent some of his servants to comfort Hanun about his father's death. David's servants came to the land of the Ammonites. 3But the Ammonite leaders spoke to Hanun their lord. "Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending men to comfort you?" they asked. "No! David sent his servants to look over the city. He wants to spy it out and destroy it." 4So Hanun grabbed David's servants. He shaved off half of each man's beard. He cut off their clothes in the middle, at their hips. Then he sent them away. 5David was told about this. So he sent messengers to meet the men, because they were deeply ashamed. The king told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then come home." 6The Ammonites saw that they had made David hate them. So they hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah. They also hired 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Tob. 7David heard about this. So he sent out Joab and the whole army of mighty men. 8The Ammonites came out and lined up for battle at the entrance of their city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves out in the open country. 9Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of Israel's best men. He lined them up to fight the Arameans. 10He put the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai. Abishai lined them up to fight the Ammonites. 11Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you must come and save me. If the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and save you. 12Be strong! Let's fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what he thinks is good." 13So Joab and his troops moved forward to fight the Arameans. And the Arameans ran away from him. 14The Ammonites saw that the Arameans had run away. So they also ran away from Abishai and went into the city. Then Joab came back from fighting the Ammonites and went to Jerusalem. 15The Arameans saw that Israel had beaten them. So they gathered together again. 16Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from the other side of the Euphrates River. They came to Helam. Shobach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. 17David was told about this. So he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. The Arameans lined up against David and fought him. 18But the Arameans ran away from Israel. David killed 700 of their chariot drivers and 40,000 foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach, the commander of their army. Shobach died there. 19All the kings who served Hadadezer saw that Israel had beaten them. So they made peace with Israel and served them. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.