When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
Wherefore Hanun took David'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.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth–re´hob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Ma´acah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
In his days did Hi´el the Beth´–elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abi´ram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served; and he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.