David’s Messengers Disgraced
And it was after this that Nahash, king of the sons of Ammon, died; and his son became king in his place.
And David said, “I will do loyal love with Hanun the son of Nahash, for his father did loyal love with me.” And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And the servants of David came to the land of the sons of Ammon, to Hanun, to comfort him.
And the officials of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun: “Is David honoring your father in your eyes, that he has sent comforters to you? Is it not to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land that his servants have come to you?”
And Hanun took the servants of David and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, up to the hip, and sent them away.
And they went, and told David about the men. And he sent to meet them, for the men were deeply humiliated; and the king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards grow back — then return.”
And the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves a stench to David; and Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves, from Aram-naharaim, and from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen.
And they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people; and they came and camped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came for the battle.
And David heard; and he sent Joab and all the army — the mighty men.
And the sons of Ammon came out and arrayed for battle at the entrance of the city; and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
David Defeats Ammon and Aram
And Joab saw that the face of the battle was toward him front and rear; and he chose from all the choice men of Israel, and arrayed them to meet Aram.
And the rest of the people he gave into the hand of Abshai his brother; and they arrayed to meet the sons of Ammon.
And he said: “If Aram is too strong for me, you shall be my salvation; and if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, I will save you.
Be strong, and let us hold strong, for our people and for the cities of our God — and the LORD will do what is good in his eyes.”
And Joab, and the people who were with him, drew near before Aram for the battle; and they fled before him.
And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram had fled; and they too fled before Abshai his brother, and came into the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.
And Aram saw that they had been struck down before Israel; and they sent messengers and brought out the Aram that was across the River, with Shophach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer, before them.
And it was told to David; and he gathered all Israel, and crossed the Jordan, and came to them, and arrayed against them. And David arrayed for battle to meet Aram, and they fought with him.
And Aram fled before Israel; and David killed of Aram seven thousand chariot-men and forty thousand foot soldiers — and Shophach, the commander of the army, he put to death.
And the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been struck down before Israel; and they made peace with David and served him. And Aram was not willing to save the sons of Ammon again.