1Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died. And his son reigned in his place. 2And David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash because his father showed kindness to me." And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun in order to comfort him. 3But the rulers of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, "Is David honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent comforters to you? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?" 4And Hanun took David's servants and shaved them, and cut off their garments in half, to the buttocks, and sent them away. 5And some came and told David how the men were treated. And he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards are grown, and then return."

6And the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, and Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia and out of Maachah of Syria, and out of Zobah. 7And they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, who came and pitched before Medeba. And the Ammonites gathered themselves from their cities and came to battle. 8And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 9And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the gate of the city. And the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

10Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice young men of Israel and set them in array against the Syrians. 11And he delivered the rest of the people into the hand of his brother Abishai. And they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. 12And he said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me. But if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the cities of our God. And let the LORD do what is good in His sight." 14So Joab and the people with him drew near before the Syrians to the battle. And they fled before him. 15And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before his brother Abishai. And they entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16And the Syrians saw that they were beaten before Israel, and sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the river. And Shophach the captain of the army of Hadadezer went before them. 17And it was told to David. And he gathered all Israel and passed over Jordan and came upon them. And he set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought against him. 18But the Syrians fled before Israel. And David killed seven thousand of the Syrians in chariots and forty thousand footmen and he killed Shophach the commander of the army. 19And the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were beaten before Israel, and they made peace with David and became his servants. And Syria was not willing to help the children of Ammon any more.