3
the Ammonite leaders said to the king, "Do you think that it is in your father's honor that David has sent these men to express sympathy to you? Of course not! He has sent them here as spies to explore the city, so that he can conquer us!"
4
Hanun seized David's messengers, shaved off one side of their beards, cut off their clothes at the hips, and sent them away.
5
They were too ashamed to return home. When David heard about what had happened, he sent word for them to stay in Jericho and not return until their beards had grown again.
6
The Ammonites realized that they had made David their enemy, so they hired twenty thousand Syrian soldiers from Bethrehob and Zobah, twelve thousand men from Tob, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men.
7
David heard of it and sent Joab against them with the whole army.
8
The Ammonites marched out and took up their position at the entrance to Rabbah, their capital city, while the others, both the Syrians and the men from Tob and Maacah, took up their position in the open countryside.
9
Joab saw that the enemy troops would attack him in front and from the rear, so he chose the best of Israel's soldiers and put them in position facing the Syrians.
10
He placed the rest of his troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who put them in position facing the Ammonites.
11
Joab said to him, "If you see that the Syrians are defeating me, come and help me, and if the Ammonites are defeating you, I will go and help you.
12
Be strong and courageous! Let's fight hard for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord's will be done!"
13
Joab and his men advanced to attack, and the Syrians fled.