When King Nahash of Ammon dies, David sends representatives to express condolences to his son Hanun. Misinterpreting this gesture as espionage, Hanun humiliates the envoys by cutting their garments and shaving half their beards—grave cultural insults. Anticipating David's retaliation, the Ammonites hire Aramean mercenaries, creating a two-front threat. Joab divides Israel's forces, personally confronting the Arameans while his brother Abishai faces the Ammonites, with the brothers agreeing to support whichever front falters. Israel prevails on both fronts, with the Arameans subsequently making peace. This chapter illustrates how misinterpreting benevolent intentions can escalate into unnecessary conflict—a pattern Jesus would later address in teaching reconciliation and warning against assumptions about others' motives.