David's Messengers Are Humiliated
Study note
When the king of Ammon died, David sent messengers to comfort his son Hanun, remembering the kindness that Hanun's father had shown David. But Hanun's advisors convinced him that David's messengers were actually spies. Hanun humiliated them by shaving off half of each man's beard and cutting their clothing at the waist. In the ancient world, this was an extreme insult. David told his messengers to wait at Jericho until their beards grew back to spare them further embarrassment.
1 After some time, the king of Ammon died, and his son Hanun took his place. And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2 David thought, "I should show kindness to Hanun, since his father Nahash was kind to me." So he sent some of his servants to express sympathy over his father's death. But when David's men entered Ammonite territory, Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3 the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun, "Do you truly think David sent these men to honor your father? They are here to scout out the city and gather information so David can attack and take it over!" And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4 Hanun had David's servants arrested. He shaved off half of each man's beard, cut their robes off at the waist to expose them, and sent them home humiliated. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When David heard about this, he sent messengers to meet the men along the way because they were deeply embarrassed. The king told them, "Wait at Jericho until your beards grow back, and then come home." When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
Joab Defeats the Ammonites and Arameans
Study note
The Ammonites realized they had made David their enemy, so they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers, a thousand men from the king of Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob. David sent Joab with all the best warriors. Joab found himself surrounded, with the Arameans in front and the Ammonites behind. He split his forces, taking the best soldiers himself to face the Arameans and putting his brother Abishai in charge of the rest to fight the Ammonites. Joab's inspiring words of courage led to victory on both fronts.
6 The Ammonites knew they had made David their enemy. So they hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah. They also hired 1,000 men from Maacah's king and 12,000 from Tob. And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.
7 David heard about what was happening and sent Joab out with all of Israel's best fighters. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
8 The Ammonites lined up at the city gate. The men from Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maacah formed lines in the open fields. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9 Joab realized he was caught between two fronts, so he selected Israel's best troops and positioned them against the Arameans. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10 He put the remaining soldiers under his brother Abishai's command and lined them up to face the Ammonites. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 Joab told Abishai, "If the Arameans overpower me, rush over and help. If the Ammonites overpower you, I will come to your rescue." And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12 "Stand firm! Let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he thinks is right." Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
13 Joab and his troops charged the Arameans, and the Arameans turned and ran. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14 Seeing the Arameans retreat, the Ammonites panicked and fled back inside their city walls. So Joab wrapped up the campaign and returned to Jerusalem. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
David Defeats the Arameans Decisively
Study note
The Arameans regrouped and brought reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River under their commander Shobach. David personally led all of Israel across the Jordan to face them at Helam. Israel won a decisive victory, killing the commander Shobach and destroying seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen. After this defeat, the Aramean vassal kings made peace with Israel and refused to help the Ammonites ever again.
15 After their defeat, the Arameans regrouped and assembled a larger army. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16 Hadadezer sent for Aramean reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River. They gathered at Helam under the command of Shobach, Hadadezer's top general. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 David received the report and assembled all of Israel. They crossed the Jordan River and advanced to Helam, where the Arameans drew up battle lines and engaged David's forces. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
18 The Arameans broke and ran before Israel. David's army destroyed 700 chariot crews and killed 40,000 horsemen. David also struck down Shobach, the army commander, who died on the battlefield. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
19 When all the kings allied with Hadadezer saw that they had lost to Israel, they surrendered and became Israel's subjects. From that point on, the Arameans wanted nothing to do with helping the Ammonites. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.