1 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 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 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 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 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.

6 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 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 8 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 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 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 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 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 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 14 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.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16 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 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 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 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.

1 后来， 亚扪人的王死了， 他的儿子哈嫩继承他作王。

2 大卫说： "我要恩待拿辖的儿子哈嫩， 像他父亲恩待我一样。"于是大卫差派自己的臣仆， 为他丧父的事安慰他。大卫的臣仆到了亚扪人境内时，

3 亚扪人的众领袖对他们的主哈嫩说： "大卫差派这些慰问的人到你这里来， 你以为他是尊敬你父亲吗？他派遣臣仆到你这里来， 不是为了要窥探这城， 侦察清楚， 然后把城倾覆吗？"

4 于是哈嫩拿住大卫的臣仆， 把他们的胡须剃去一半， 又把他们的外袍割去半截， 露出臀部， 然后才放他们走。

5 有人告诉大卫， 他就派人去迎接他们， 因为他们非常羞耻。王就说： "你们可以住在耶利哥， 等到你们的胡须长长了才回来。"

6 亚扪人知道大卫憎恶他们， 就派人去招募伯．利合的亚兰人和琐巴的亚兰人， 步兵二万， 玛迦王的人一千， 陀伯人一万二千。

7 大卫听见了， 就差派约押和全体勇士出去。

8 亚扪人出来， 在城门前摆阵， 琐巴和利合的亚兰人， 陀伯人和玛迦人， 也分别在郊野摆阵。

9 约押看见自己前后受敌， 就从以色列所有的精兵中， 挑选一部分出来， 使他们摆阵去迎战亚兰人，

10 他把其余的人交在他兄弟亚比筛手下， 使他们摆阵去迎战亚扪人。

11 约押对亚比筛说： "如果亚兰人比我强， 你就来帮助我。如果亚扪人比你强， 我就去帮助你。

12 你要刚强； 为了我们的人民和我们 神的众城镇， 我们要刚强！ 愿耶和华成全他看为美的事。"

13 于是约押和与他在一起的人前进， 攻击亚兰人； 亚兰人在约押面前逃跑。

14 亚扪人看见亚兰人逃跑， 他们也在亚比筛面前逃跑， 逃进城里去了。约押就从亚扪人那里回来， 回到耶路撒冷去了。

15 亚兰人见自己被以色列人击败， 就再聚集起来。

16 哈大底谢差遣人把幼发拉底河那边的亚兰人调来。他们来到了希兰， 由哈大底谢的将军朔法率领他们。

17 有人告诉了大卫， 他就聚集所有的以色列人， 渡过约旦河， 来到了希兰。亚兰人摆好了阵迎击大卫， 与他交战。

18 亚兰人却在以色列人面前逃跑。大卫杀了亚兰七百名驾驶战车的军兵， 四万骑兵。又击杀了亚兰军队的将军朔法， 他就死在那里。

19 所有臣服于哈大底谢的王看见自己被以色列人打败， 就与以色列人议和， 臣服于他们。于是亚兰人害怕， 不敢再帮助亚扪人了。