1
It happened after this, that Nachash the king of the children of `Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place.
2
David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nachash, because his father shown kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of `Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
3
But the princes of the children of `Ammon said to Hanun, Think you that David does honor your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Aren't his servants come to you to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
4
So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5
Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Stay at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
6
When the children of `Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of `Ammon sent one thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Aram-Naharayim, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Tzovah.
7
So they hired them thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Ma`akhah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeva. The children of `Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8
When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av, and all the host of the mighty men.