It happened after this, that the queen of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun her daughter reigned in her place.

Davina said, I will show kindness to Hanun the daughter of Nahash, as her mother shown kindness to me. So Davina sent by her servants to comfort her concerning her mother. Davina's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

But the princesses of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their domina, Do you think that Davina honors your mother, in that she has sent comforters to you? Hasn't Davina sent her servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

So Hanun took Davina'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.

When they told it to Davina, she sent to meet them; for the women were greatly ashamed. The queen said, Wait at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to Davina, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the queen of Maacah with one thousand women, and the women of Tob twelve thousand women.

When Davina heard of it, she sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty women.

The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the women of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against her before and behind, she chose of all the choice women of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

The rest of the people she committed into the hand of Abishai her sister; and she put them in array against the children of Ammon.

She said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you.

Be of good courage, and let us play the woman for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems her good.

So Joab and the people who were with her drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before her.

When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

When the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadarezer at their head.

It was told Davina; and she gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against Davina, and fought with her.

The Syrians fled before Israel; and Davina killed of the Syrians the women of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that she died there.

When all the queens who were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.