And it came to passafterthis, that the kingof the childrenof Ammondied, and Hanunhis sonreignedin his stead. Then saidDavid, I will showkindnessuntoHanunthe sonof Nahash, ashis fathershowedkindnessuntome. And Davidsentto comforthim by the handof his servantsforhis father. And David's servantscameinto the landof the childrenof Ammon. And the princesof the childrenof AmmonsaiduntoHanuntheir lord, Thinkestthou that Daviddoth honorthy father, thathe hath sentcomfortersunto thee? hath notDavid rather senthis servantsuntothee, tosearchthe city, and to spy it out, and to overthrowit? Wherefore HanuntookDavid's servants, and shaved offthe one halfof their beards, and cut offtheir garmentsin the middle, even totheir buttocks, and sent them away. When they told it unto David, he sentto meetthem, becausethe menweregreatlyashamed: and the kingsaid, Tarryat Jerichountilyour beardsbe grown, and then return. And when the childrenof Ammonsawthatthey stankbefore David, the childrenof Ammonsentand hiredthe Syriansof Beth-rehob, and the Syriansof Zoba, twentythousandfootmen, and of kingMaacaha thousandmen, and of Ish-tob twelvethousandmen. And when Davidheardof it , he sentJoab, and allthe hostof the mighty men. And the childrenof Ammoncame out, and put the battlein arrayat the enteringin of the gate: and the Syriansof Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselvesin the field. When Joabsawthatthe frontof the battlewasagainsthim beforeand behind, he choseof allthe choice men of Israel, and put them in arrayagainstthe Syrians: And the restof the peoplehe deliveredinto the handof Abishaihis brother, that he might put them in arrayagainstthe childrenof Ammon. And he said, Ifthe Syriansbe too strongforme, then thou shalthelpme: but ifthe childrenof Ammonbe too strongforthee, then I will comeand helpthee. Be of good courage, and let us play the menforour people, and forthe citiesof our God: and the LORDdothat which seemethhim good. And Joabdrew nigh, and the peoplethat were withhim, unto the battleagainst the Syrians: and they fledbeforehim. And when the childrenof Ammonsawthatthe Syrianswere fled, then fledthey also beforeAbishai, and enteredinto the city. So Joabreturnedfromthe childrenof Ammon, and cameto Jerusalem. And when the Syrianssawthatthey were smittenbeforeIsrael, they gathered themselvestogether. And Hadarezersent, and brought outthe Syriansthat were beyondthe river: and they cameto Helam; and Shobachthe captainof the hostof Hadarezer went beforethem. And when it was toldDavid, he gathered all Israel together, and passed overJordan, and cameto Helam. And the Syriansset themselves in arrayagainstDavid, and foughtwithhim. And the SyriansfledbeforeIsrael; and Davidslew the men of sevenhundredchariotsof the Syrians, and fortythousandhorsemen, and smoteShobachthe captainof their host, who diedthere. And when allthe kings that were servantsto Hadarezersawthatthey were smittenbeforeIsrael, they made peacewithIsrael, and servedthem. So the Syriansfearedto helpthe childrenof Ammonany more.