2 SAMUEL 10

ISRAEL’S DEFEAT OF THE AMMONITES + ARAMEANS

David receives the news that Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, has died. David sends some messengers to console Hanun, Nahash’s son. When the messengers arrive in Ammon, Nahash assumes they are spies, so he cuts off their beards and half of the robes, leaving them exposed and humiliated.

The Ammonites hired the Syrians (also called Arameans) to help them battle the Israelites, but David, Joab, and the Israelites are able to defeat them all. After this defeat, the Syrians no longer want to team up in battle with the Ammonites.