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? 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 Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men. 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 Ish-tob, 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. 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. 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.

1 E ACONTECEU depois disto que morreu o rei dos filhos de Amom, e seu filho Hanum reinou em seu lugar. 2 Então disse Davi: Usarei de beneficência com Hanum, filho de Naás, como seu pai usou de beneficência comigo. E enviou Davi a consolá-lo, pelo ministério de seus servos, acerca de seu pai: e vieram os servos de Davi à terra dos filhos de Amom. 3 Então disseram os príncipes dos filhos de Amom a seu senhor, Hanum: Porventura honra Davi a teu pai aos teus olhos, porque te enviou consoladores? porventura não te enviou Davi os seus servos para reconhecerem esta cidade, e para espiá-la, e para transtorná-la? 4 Então tomou Hanum os servos de Davi, e lhes raspou metade da barba, e lhes cortou metade dos vestidos, até às nádegas, e os despediu. 5 O que fazendo saber a Davi enviou a encontrá-los; porque estavam estes homens sobremaneira envergonhados; e disse o rei: Deixai-vos estar em Jericó, até que vos torne a crescer a barba; e então vinde. 6 Vendo pois os filhos de Amom, que se tinham feito abomináveis para Davi, enviaram os filhos de Amom, e alugaram dos siros de Bete-Recobe e dos siros de Zobá vinte mil homens de pé, e do rei de Maaca mil homens e dos homens de Tobe doze mil homens. 7 O que ouvindo Davi, enviou a Joabe e a todo o exército dos valentes. 8 E saíram os filhos de Amom, e ordenaram a batalha à entrada da porta: mas os siros de Zobá e Recobe e os homens de Tobe e Maaca estavam à parte no campo. 9 Vendo pois Joabe que estava preparada contra ele a frente da batalha, por diante e por detrás escolheu dentre todos os escolhidos de Israel, e formou-os em linha contra os siros. 10 E o resto do povo entregou na mão de Abisai seu irmão, o qual formou em linha contra os filhos de Amom. 11 E disse: Se os siros forem mais fortes do que eu, tu me virás em socorro; e se os filhos de Amom forem mais fortes que tu, irei a socorrer-te a ti. 12 Esforça-te, pois, e esforcemo-nos pelo nosso povo, e pelas cidades de nosso Deus: e faça o Senhor então o que bem parecer aos seus olhos. 13 Então se achegou Joabe, e o povo que estava com ele, à peleja contra os siros; e fugiram de diante dele. 14 E, vendo os filhos de Amom que os siros fugiam, também eles fugiram de diante de Abisai e entraram na cidade: e voltou Joabe dos filhos de Amom e veio para Jerusalém. 15 Vendo pois os siros que tinham sido feridos diante de Israel tornaram a refazer-se. 16 E enviou Hadadezer e fez sair os siros que estavam da outra banda do rio, e vieram a Helão: e Sobaque, chefe do exército de Hadadezer, marchava diante deles. 17 Do que informado Davi, ajuntou a todo Israel, e passou o Jordão, e veio a Helã: e os siros se puseram em ordem contra Davi, e pelejaram com ele. 18 Porém os siros fugiram de diante de Israel, e Davi feriu dentre os siros aos homens de setecentos carros e quarenta mil homens de cavalo: também ao mesmo Sobaque, general do exército, feriu, e morreu ali. 19 Vendo pois todos os reis, servos de Hadadezer, que haviam ficado mal diante de Israel, fizeram paz com Israel, e o serviram: e temeram os siros de socorrer mais aos filhos de Amom.