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More II Samuel commentaries
II Samuel 7:1-17
God Makes a Covenant with David
II Samuel 7:18-29
David’s Thanksgiving to God
II Samuel 8:1-18
David’s Consolidates his Kingdom
II Samuel 9:1-13
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
II Samuel 10:1-19
The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated
II Samuel 11:1-17
David’s Sin with Bathsheba
II Samuel 11:18-27
Uriah’s Death Arranged
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The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated
II Samuel 10:1–19
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
When I was in school I was afraid to stand up in front of anyone and say anything. One day a teacher called on me to read a paragraph in front of the class. I stood up and read a sentence and a big grapefruit came up in my throat and I couldn’t say another word. I sat down … More
It appears that Nahash, king of the Ammonites, became David’s friend when he was fleeing from Saul. Whatever the reason, the text makes it clear that David considered Nahash an ally and a friend and had every intention of honoring him when he sent a delegation to morn his death (vv. 1-2). It is evident his son, Hanum, is a different kind of man and when he hears there is a delegation coming from Israel he assumed that their intentions are not honorable. He listens to his advisors who say that David is only sending these men as spies to obtain intelligence so he can attack them as he has so many other nations (v.3).
As a result he deliberately humiliates this delegation and provokes a war with Israel. He has half of the beard of each man shaved off. In addition he has the garments cut off at the waist to embarrass them (v. 4). I can’t think of a way to more thoroughly humiliate David’s ambassadors than this. When David hears that his delegation has been humiliated he sends some one to meet them and instructs them to wait in Jericho until their beards grow back (v. 5).
The sons of Ammon realize they have provoked David, and rather them apologize they hire Syrian mercenaries to join in an attack on Israel (v. 6). When David and his forces go to battle the Syrians decide to flee and the Ammonites seeing this also lose heart and head to Rabbah, their chief city of protection. David seems willing to leave it at this, but the Syrians haven’t learned their lesson and come for another attack (vv. 7-10). The Israelites were now veterans in warfare. Joab apparently, is throwing his best forces between the approaching Syrian mercenaries and the forces of the Ammonites to prevent their joining together. This time David’s army mops them up and the surviving kings make their peace with David (vv. 11-19).
Application
David said, “May the Lord do what is good in His sight." Like David I want to be able to trust God for the outcome, no matter what the circumstances in life may be.
II Samuel 10:1-19 (English Standard Version)
After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. And David said, "I will deal loyally with Hanun 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 Hanun 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 Hanun 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 return." When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, 20,000 foot soldiers, and the king of Maacah with 1,000 men, and the men of Tob, 12,000 men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the host 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 Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah 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 for me, then you shall help me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him." So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. And when the Ammonites saw that the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.
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