The Ammonites And Syrians Defeated

II Samuel 10:1–19
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

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 than 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.