The Second Book of Samuel, otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings
2 Samuel 10
Chapter X · Vol. II, pp. 689–690
1 David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are disgracefully entreated. 6 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai. 15 Hadarezer sendeth a new army of Syrians under Shobach, which is defeated by David.
1 And it came to pass after this, that the kinga of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
B.C. 1036.[?]
a 1 Sa.11.1.? 1 Ch.19.1-19. ch.17.27.
2 Then said David, I will bshow kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me.1 And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David2 doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? chath not David rather sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and dshaved off the one half of their 3beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
d Le.19.27. Is.20.4; 47.2,3. Ps.109.4. 2 Ch.36.16.
3 Amongst many of the Asiatic nations, the beard is not merely considered as the chief ornament of manhood, but also as a sign of liberty and authority—none but slaves having it shaved off. Amongst the Arabians, many of whose tribes were nearly akin to the Jews, cutting off the beard would (as we learn from Niebuhr, ch.vii.) be considered not merely as a punishment equal to public whipping and branding in Europe, but so utterly intolerable, that the Arab had rather suffer death than be so disgraced.—C.
5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at eJericho4 until your beards be grown, and then return.
e Not that Jos.6.24. 1 Ki.16.34, but some village near to it.
4 The place where the city of Jericho stood, and which being now uninhabited, according to the denunciation of Joshua, was an appropriate solitude for his envoys till the marks of the insult should be obliterated.—C.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they fstank before David, the children of Ammon gsent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah5 a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.
f 1 Ch.19.6,7. Ge.34.30. Ex.5.21. 1 Sa.13.4; 27.12.
g Is.8.9,10. ch.8.5. Ps.83.1-4, with Nu.13.21. Jos.13.11,13.
5 Maacah was not the name of a man but a district; it should be the king of Maacah or Syria Maachah, as in 1 Ch.19.6,7. It lay south of Damascus on the Jewish frontier.—I.
8 Andi the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the kSyrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.6
i 1 Ch.19.9-19.
k ch.8.3,5. Nu.13.21. Ju.11.3. ver.6.
6 It appears from 1 Ch.19.7 that this was at Medeba, a city upon the borders of the Ammonites, and in their possession. When Joab arrived, the army of the Ammonites was probably in the city, and their allies in the field, so that they almost surrounded the army of Israel.—I.
9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind,7 he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
7 The Ammonites, who had sallied? from the city, which Joab seems to have beleaguered, being before; and the Syrians behind, who had come to raise the siege.—C.
10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11 And he said, lIf the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12 Bem of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the LORD ndo that which seemeth him good.8
m 1 Sa.14.6,12; 17.32. 2 Ch.32.7. 1 Co.16.13. Ne.4.14. Ep.6.10. 2 Ti.2.1.
n Ju.10.15. 1 Sa.3.18. ch.16.10,11. Job 1.21.
8 The noblest military address upon record; and, if Joab really felt as he spoke, indicating more of pious regard and resignation to the will of God than his previous character would lead us to expect. One fact it develops, as it shows that Joab's popularity with the army, which rendered him more a master than a servant to David, arose from the energy of his appropriate and sententious eloquence.—C.
13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians; and they fled before him.
14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they ogathered themselves together.
A.M. 2968. B.C. 1036.
o Mi.4.11-13. Ps.2.1; 118.10-12; 27.2,3. Is.8.9,10.
16 And pHadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river;9 and they came to Helam: and Shobach, the captain of the host of Hadarezer, went before them.
p 1 Ch.19.16. Ps.60.title. ch.8.3,5. 1 Ki.11.23.
9 The Euphrates, in Mesopotamia.
17 And when it was told David, qhe gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan,1 and came to Helam: and the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
q 1 Ch.19.17.
1 To the eastward.
18 Andr the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew2 the men of seven hundred chariots3 of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen,4 and smote Shobach, the captain of their host, who died there.
r 1 Ch.19.18. ch.8.4. Ps.18.38; 33.16. Is.26.11; 31.2,3.
2 Heb. smote dead.
3 That is, ten men in a chariot, which make up the number of 7000.
4 The difference between the numbers in this passage and that in 1 Ch. 19. 18 is usually ascribed to some error of transcribers, and certainly the numeral marks for 700 and 7000 are sufficiently similar to render this statement plausible. For the difference, however, between footmen and horsemen, it will not account. But there is no need for those violent, because unauthorized attempts at reconciliation. Both accounts may be true. The horsemen might have been dismounted, the better to escape through rocky passes, and so slain as footmen—700 might have been destroyed in one battle, 7000 in the whole campaign.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—It is good to return a kindness even to the wicked, and to mourn with the afflicted. Wicked princes are ordinarily attended by wicked flatterers. Base minds are always the most suspicious: and evil suspicions hurry men into the most rash and ruinous conduct. It is exceedingly criminal to violate the person of an ambassador. But little pleasure, profit, or honour must be expected from courting or complimenting the inveterate enemies of God and his people. Calumny often drives men into obscurity; but patience will gradually wear off the reproach. War had need to be made with good advice. No numbers will be found able to support those who fight against God. Nor is it unwieldy strength, but a prudent disposition and application of forces, that in battle usually prevails. Great dangers call for the greater fortitude. Love of God, and of their country, makes the bravest soldiers. Mutual assistance is a duty incumbent in every difficulty; and dependence upon God, in the use of the means, is the sure way to be crowned with success. What a mercy is it that inclement winters interrupt the grievous trade of war, and force the combatants to an unwilling rest! But sinners, by their obstinate opposition to Christ and his cause, often bring upon themselves redoubled destruction. It is happy if they submit before they are totally ruined. Meanwhile, let mankind beware of abusing Jesus' ministers and messages of grace; for the righteous judgment of Almighty God awaits such wickedness as its just reward.