II Samuel 10 · שמואל ב

And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of ῾Ammon died, and Ḥanun his son reigned in his stead.

Then said David, I will show loyal love to Ḥanun the son of Naĥash, as his father showed love to me. And David sent to comfort him for his father’s death by the hand of his servants. And David’s servants came into the land of the children of ῾Ammon.

And the princes of the children of ῾Ammon said to Ḥanun their lord, Thinkst thou that David honours thy father, that he has sent comforters to thee? has not David rather sent his servants to thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

So Ḥanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, to their buttocks, and sent them away.

When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Remain at Yeriĥo until your beards are grown, and then return.

And when the children of ῾Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the children of ῾Ammon sent and hired Aram of Bet-reĥov, and Aram of Żova, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Ma῾akha a thousand men, and of Ish-tov twelve thousand men.

And when David heard of it, he sent Yo᾽av, and all the host of the warriors.

And the children of ῾Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and Aram of Żova, and of Reĥov, and Ish-tov, and Ma῾akha were by themselves in the open country.

When Yo᾽av saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yisra᾽el, and put them in array against Aram:

and the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Avshay his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of ῾Ammon.

And he said, If Aram proves too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of ῾Ammon are too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seems good in his eyes.

And Yo᾽av drew near, and the people that were with him, to the battle against Aram: and they fled before him.

And when the children of ῾Ammon saw that Aram were fled, then fled they also before Avishay, and entered the city. So Yo᾽av returned from the children of ῾Ammon, and came to Yerushalayim.

And when Aram saw that they were beaten before Yisra᾽el, they gathered themselves together.

And Hadad῾ezer sent, and brought out those of Aram that were beyond the river: and they came to Ḥelam; and Shovakh the captain of the host of Hadad῾ezer went before them.

And when it was told David, he gathered all Yisra᾽el together, and passed over the Yarden, and came to Ḥelam. And Aram set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

And Aram fled before Yisra᾽el; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of Aram, and forty thousand horse-men, and smote Shovakh the captain of their host, who died there.

And when all the kings that were servants to Hadad῾ezer saw that they were beaten before Yisra᾽el, they made peace with Yisra᾽el, and served them. So Aram feared to help the children of ῾Ammon any more.