1And it was after this that Serpent, king of the sons of Amon, died, and his son reigned in his place.2And David said, "I will show steadfast love to Hanun son of Nahash because his father showed steadfast love to my people." And David sent messengers to comfort him over his father. And David's servants came to the land of the sons of Amon to Hanun to comfort him.3And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, "Does David honor your father in your eyes, because he sent comforters to you? Is it not to explore and overthrow and spy on the land that his servants have come to you?"4And Hanun took the servants of David and shaved them and cut off their garments at the half until the hip and sent them away.5And they went and told David about the men, and he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beard grows, and then return."6And the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, and Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah.7And they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah and his people, and they came and encamped before Medeba. And the sons of Ammon gathered from their cities and came for warfare.8And David heard and sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men.9And the sons of Amon went out and set in order warfare at the entrance of the City of refuge, and the kings who had come to them stood alone in the field.10And Joab saw that the battle was against him both front and rear, and he chose some of the choice men in Israel and arranged them to meet Aram.11He gave the rest of the people into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they arrayed themselves to meet the sons of Ammon.12And he said, "If Aram is stronger than me, then you will be salvation to me, and if the sons of Ammon are stronger than you, then I will save you."13Be strong, and let us strengthen ourselves for our people and for the cities of our God, and the LORD will do what is good in his eyes.14And Joab drew near, and the people who were with him, to the face of Aram for warfare, and they fled from before him.15The sons of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, and they also fled from before Abshai his brother, and they came to the city. And Joab came to Jerusalem.16And Aram saw that they had been struck down before Israel, and they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans that were across the River, and Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer before them.17And it was told to David, and he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew them up, and David drew up to meet Aram for battle, and they fought with him.18And Aram fled from before Israel, and David killed seven thousand chariots of Aram and forty thousand foot soldiers, and he killed Shophach the commander of the army.19And the servants of Hadadezer saw that they were struck down before Israel, and they made peace with David and served him, and Aram was not willing to save the sons of Ammon anymore.