1 And it came to pass, after this, that the king of the sons of Ammon died,and that Hanun his son reigned in his stead.2 Then said DavidI will shew lovingkindness unto Hanun son of Nahash, as his father shewed, unto me, lovingkindness. So David sent to comfort him, by the hand of his servants, as to his father,and the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon.3 Then said the rulers of the sons of Ammon unto Hanun their lordIs David honouring thy father, in thine eyes, that he hath sent unto thee comforters? Is it not, for the sake of exploring the city, and spying it out, and overthrowing it, that David hath sent his servants unto thee?4 Wherefore Hanun took Davids servants, and shaved off half their beards, and cut off their upper garments in the middle, as far as their buttocks,and let them go.5 And, when they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed,and the king saidTarry at Jericho, until your beards be grown, then shall ye return.6 And, when the sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious with David, the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobatwenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacaha thousand men, and men of Tobtwelve thousand men.7 And, when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of heroes,8 And the sons of Ammon came out, and set in array for battle, at the entrance of the gate,whereas, the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and of Maacah, were by themselves, in the field.9 And, when Joab saw that the front of the battle was towards him, before and behind, he chose out of all the chosen men of Israel, and set them in array against the Syrians;10 while, the rest of the people, he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother,and set in array against the sons of Ammon.11 And he saidIf the Syrians be too strong for me, then shalt thou become my deliverance,but, if, the sons of Ammon, be too strong for thee, then will I come with deliverance to thee.12 Be strong, and let us put forth our strength, for the sake of our people, and for the sake of the cities of our God,and, Yahweh, do what is good in his own eyes.13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, to fight against the Syrians,and they fled before him.14 And, when, the sons of Ammon, saw that the Syrians had fled, then fled they before Abishai, and entered the city,so Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and entered Jerusalem.15 And, when the Syrians saw that they were defeated before Israel, they gathered themselves together;16 and Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River, and they entered Helam,Shobach the prince of the host of Hadadezer being before them.17 And, when it was told David, he gathered together all Israel, and passed over the Jordan, and entered Helam,and the Syrians set themselves in array to meet David, and fought with him.18 Then fled the Syrians before Israel, and David slew of the Syrians seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen,Shobach also, prince of their host, smote he, that he died, there.19 And, when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them,and the Syrians feared to give help any more unto the sons of Ammon.

1 E aconteceu, depois disso, 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 rapou metade da barba, e lhes cortou metade das vestes, até às nádegas, e os despediu. 5 O que fazendo saber a Davi, este 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-Reobe 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 contra eles a Joabe com 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 Reobe 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 o 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. 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 estes 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 Helã; e Sobaque, chefe do exército de Hadadezer, marchava diante deles. 17 Do que informado Davi, ajuntou a todo o Israel, e passou o Jordão, e veio a Helã; e os siros se puseram em ordem contra Davi e pelejaram contra 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.