(KJV) 2 Samuel 10¹

⥃David’s Messengers Disgraced ^{[ 1 Chronicles 19:1–9 ]}

[1] And it came to pass after this, that the king² of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.³ [2] Then said David, I will shew kindness⁴ unto Hanun the son of Nahash⁵, as his father⁶ 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 doth⁷ honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not⁸ David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? [4] Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved⁹ off the one half of their beards, and cut off¹⁰ 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 Jericho¹¹ until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

[6] And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank¹² before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth–rehob¹³, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah¹⁴ a thousand men, and of Ish–tob¹⁵ twelve thousand men. [7] And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host¹⁶ of the mighty men. [8] And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering¹⁷ in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob¹⁸, and Ish–tob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.

⥃David Defeats Ammon and Aram ^{[ 1 Chronicles 19:10–19 ]}

[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:¹⁹ [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.²⁰ [12] Be of good²¹ courage, and let us play²² the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord²³ 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 fled²⁴ 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 gathered²⁵ themselves together.²⁶ [16] And Hadarezer²⁷ sent, and brought out the Syrians that [were] beyond the river²⁸: and they came to Helam; and Shobach²⁹ the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them. [17] And when it was told David, he gathered³⁰ 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 fled³¹ before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen³², and smote Shobach³³ the captain of their host, who died there. [19] And when all the kings [that were] servants³⁴ to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared³⁵ to help the children of Ammon any more.