2nd Samuel Chapter 10
From The Open Bible Project
10:1 It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
10:2 David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
- (a) The children of God are not unmindful of a benefit received.
10:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?"
- (b) Their arrogant malice would not allow them to see the simplicity of David’s heart: therefore their counsel turned to the destruction of their country.
10:4 So 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.
10:5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, "Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return."
10:6 When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
- (c) That they deserved David’s displeasure, for the harm done to his ambassadors.
10:7 When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.
10:8 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 men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
- (d) These were various parts of the country of Syria, by which it appears that the Syrians served where they might have entertainment, as now the Sweitzers do.
10:9 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10:10 The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
10:11 He said, "If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
10:12 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Yahweh do that which seems good to him."
- (e) Here it is declared why war should be undertaken: for the defence of true religion and God’s people.
10:13 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
10:14 When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
10:15 When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.
10:16 Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
10:17 It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
- (f) Meaning, the greatest part.
10:18 The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there.
- (g) Who were the chief and most principal: for in all he destroyed 7000, as in (1 Chronicles 19:18), or the soldiers who were in 700 chariots.
10:19 When all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
