10:1
The Humiliation of the Messengers and the Aramean War
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
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2 Shamu'al 10
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Then said Dawid, "I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me." And Dawid sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And Dawid's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
10:3
The Paranoia of the Princes
And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their adun, "Thinkest thou that Dawid doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not Dawid rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"
10:4
The Biological Humiliation
Wherefore Hanun took Dawid'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.
10:5
The Quarantine at Yaricho
When they told it unto Dawid, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, "Tarry at Yaricho until your beards be grown, and then return."
10:6
The Mobilization of the Aramean Matrix
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before Dawid, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob, and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.
10:7
The Deployment of the Mighty Men
And when Dawid heard of it, he sent Yoab, and all the host of the mighty men (Gibborim).
10:8
The Pincer Movement of the Enemy
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Arameans of Zobah, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
10:9
The Strategy of Yoab
When Yoab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Yashar'al, and put them in array against the Arameans:
10:10
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.
10:11
The Protocol of Mutual Suretyship
And he said, "If the Arameans 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."
10:12
"Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our Alahiym: and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 do that which seemeth him good."
10:13
The Rout of the Coalition
And Yoab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Arameans: and they fled before him.
10:14
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Arameans were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Yoab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Yarushalayim.
10:15
The Resurgence of Hadadezer
And when the Arameans saw that they were smitten before Yashar'al, they gathered themselves together.
10:16
And Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Arameans that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadadezer went before them.
10:17
The Direct Engagement of the King
And when it was told Dawid, he gathered all Yashar'al together, and passed over Yardan, and came to Helam. And the Arameans set themselves in array against Dawid, and fought with him.
10:18
The Slaughter at Helam
And the Arameans fled before Yashar'al; and Dawid slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Arameans, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
10:19
The Capitulation of the Kings
And when all the kings that were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were smitten before Yashar'al, they made peace with Yashar'al, and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the children of Ammon any more.