The reading from the book of 2 Samuel.

After this, the king of the Ammonites died, and Hainan his son reigned in his place.

And David said, I will deal loyally with Hainan, the son of Nahash, as his father dealt

loyally with me.

So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father, and David's servants came into the

land of the Ammonites, but the princes of the Ammonites said to Hainan their lord,

Do you think because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father,

has not David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out and to overthrow

it? So Hainan took David's servants and shaved off half the beard of each

and cut off their garments in the middle at their hips and sent them away. When it was told David,

he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed, and the king said,

Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then returned. When the Amonites saw that they

had become a stench to David,

the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehop and the Syrians of Zobah,

20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Meyaka with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. And when David

heard of it, he sent Joab and all the hosts of the mighty men, and the Ammonites

came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate, and the Syrians of Zob,

and of Rehub and the men of Tob and Mayaka were by themselves in the open country.

When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose

some of the best men of Israel

and arrayed them against the Syrians. The rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai,

his brother, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. And he said, if the Syrians are too strong

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