Dual Panel1Now it came<1961> about after<310> this<3651>, that Nahash<5176> the king<4428> of the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> died<4191>, and his son<1121> became<4427> king<4427> in his place<8478>.
2Then David<1732> said<559>, "I will show<6213> kindness<2617> to Hanun<2586> the son<1121> of Nahash<5176>, because<3588> his father<1> showed<6213> kindness<2617> to me." So David<1732> sent<7971> messengers<4397> to console<5162> him concerning<5921> his father<1>. And David's<1732> servants<5650> came<935> into the land<776> of the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> to Hanun<2586> to console<5162> him.
3But the princes<8269> of the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> said<559> to Hanun<2586>, "Do you think<5869> that David<1732> is honoring<3513> your father<1>, in that he has sent<7971> comforters<5162> to you? Have not his servants<5650> come<935> to you to search<2713> and to overthrow<2015> and to spy<7270> out the land<776>?"
4So Hanun<2586> took<3947> David's<1732> servants<5650> and shaved<1548> them and cut<3772> off<3772> their garments<4063> in the middle<2677> as far<5704> as their hips<4667>, and sent<7971> them away<7971>.
5Then certain persons went<1980> and told<5046> David<1732> about<5921> the men<376>. And he sent<7971> to meet<7122> them, for the men<376> were greatly<3966> humiliated<3637>. And the king<4428> said<559>, "Stay<3427> at Jericho<3405> until<5704><834> your beards<2206> grow<6779>, and then return<7725>."
6When the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> saw<7200> that they had made<887> themselves odious<887> to David<1732>, Hanun<2586> and the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> sent<7971> 1,000 <505> talents<3603> of silver<3701> to hire<7936> for themselves chariots<7393> and horsemen<6571> from Mesopotamia<763>, from Aram-maacah<758><4601> and from Zobah<6678>.
7So they hired<7936> for themselves 32,000 <8147><7970><505> chariots<7393>, and the king<4428> of Maacah<4601> and his people<5971>, who came<935> and camped<2583> before<6440> Medeba<4311>. And the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> gathered<622> together from their cities<5892> and came<935> to battle<4421>.
8When David<1732> heard<8085> of it, he sent<7971> Joab<3097> and all<3605> the army<6635>, the mighty<1368> men<1368>.
9The sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> came<3318> out and drew<6186> up in battle<4421> array at the entrance<6607> of the city<5892>, and the kings<4428> who<834> had come<935> were by themselves<905> in the field<7704>.
10Now when Joab<3097> saw<7200> that the battle<4421> was set against<413> him in front<6440> and in the rear<268>, he selected<977> from all<3605> the choice<970> men of Israel<3478> and they arrayed<6186> themselves against<7122> the Arameans<758>.
11But the remainder<3499> of the people<5971> he placed<5414> in the hand<3027> of Abshai<52> his brother<251>; and they arrayed<6186> themselves against<7122> the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983>.
12He said<559>, "If<518> the Arameans<758> are too<4480> strong<2388> for me, then you shall help<1961><8668> me; but if<518> the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> are too<4480> strong<2388> for you, then I will help<3467> you.
13"Be strong<2388>, and let us show<2388> ourselves courageous<2388> for the sake<1157> of our people<5971> and for the cities<5892> of our God<430>; and may the LORD<3068> do<6213> what<2896> is good<2896> in His sight<5869>."
14So Joab<3097> and the people<5971> who<834> were with him drew<5066> near<5066> to the battle<4421> against<6440> the Arameans<758>, and they fled<5127> before<4480><6440> him.
15When the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> saw<7200> that the Arameans<758> fled<5127>, they also<1571> fled<5127> before<4480><6440> Abshai<52> his brother<251> and entered<935> the city<5892>. Then Joab<3097> came<935> to Jerusalem<3389>.
16When the Arameans<758> saw<7200> that they had been defeated<5062> by Israel<3478>, they sent<7971> messengers<4397> and brought<3318> out the Arameans<758> who<834> were beyond<4480><5676> the River<5104>, with Shophach<7780> the commander<8269> of the army<6635> of Hadadezer<1909> leading<6440> them.
17When it was told<5046> David<1732>, he gathered<622> all<3605> Israel<3478> together and crossed<5674> the Jordan<3383>, and came<935> upon them and drew<6186> up in formation<6186> against<413> them. And when David<1732> drew<6186> up in battle<4421> array against<7122> the Arameans<758>, they fought<3898> against<5973> him.
18The Arameans<758> fled<5127> before<4480><6440> Israel<3478>, and David<1732> killed<2026> of the Arameans<758> 7,000 <7651><505> charioteers<7393> and 40,000 <705><505> foot<7273> soldiers<376><7273>, and put<4191> to death<4191> Shophach<7780> the commander<8269> of the army<6635>.
19So when the servants<5650> of Hadadezer<1909> saw<7200> that they were defeated<5062> by Israel<3478>, they made<7999> peace<7999> with David<1732> and served<5647> him. Thus the Arameans<758> were not willing<14> to help<3467> the sons<1121> of Ammon<5983> anymore<5750>.