David’s Messengers Disgraced
(1 Chronicles 19:1–9)

1And it came to pass after this that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2And David said, “I will do kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father did kindness to me.”

And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants concerning his father. And the servants of David came into the land of the sons of Ammon. 3And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Is David honoring your father in your eyes because he has sent to you comforters? Is it not for the purpose of searching out the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it that David has sent his servants to you?”

4And Hanun took the servants of David and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.

5And they told David, and he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Abide at Jericho until your⁺ beards have grown, and return.”

6And the sons of Ammon saw that they were made to stink to David, and the sons of Ammon sent and hired Aram of Beth-rehob, and Aram of Zoba, and twenty thousand footmen, and from the king of Maacah a thousand men, and from Tob twelve thousand men.

7And David heard, and he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men. 8And the sons of Ammon came out for battle and arrayed themselves at the entrance of the gate, and Aram of Zobah, and Rehob, and the men of Tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram
(1 Chronicles 19:10–19)

9And Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before the faces and behind, and he chose some of the chosen of Israel, and he arrayed them to meet Aram. 10And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and he arrayed them against the sons of Ammon.

11And he said, “If Aram is too strong for me, then you will be to me for salvation. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will go to give salvation to you. 12Be strong and strengthen yourself for our people, and for the cities of our God. And YHWH does what is good in His eyes.”

13And Joab drew near, and the people who were with him, for the battle against Aram, and they fled before his face. 14And the sons of Ammon saw that Aram was fleeing, and they fled before Abishai and entered the city. And Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and he entered Jerusalem.

15And Aram saw that they had been struck by Israel, and they gathered together. 16And Hadadezer sent and brought out Aram, which is beyond the River.† And they came to Helam, and Shobach† commander of the army of Hadadezer was before their faces.

17And it was told to David, and he gathered all Israel and passed over the Jordan, and he came to Helam. And Aram arrayed themselves against David, and fought with him. 18And Aram fled before Israel, and David killed of Aram seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers,† and Shobach the commander of their army he struck down, and he died there.

19And all the kings—servants of Hadadezer—saw that they were defeated by Israel, and they made peace with Israel and served them. And Aram was afraid to deliver the sons of Ammon anymore.