1David's ambassadors, sent to comfort Hanun for his father's death, are disgracefully treated. 6The Ammonites strengthened by the Syrians are overcome by Joab and Abishai. 15Hadarezer sendeth a new army of Syrians under Shobach, which is defeated by David, and their general slain; whereupon the kings who were subject to Syria become servants to Israel.
1ANDa1it came to pass after this, that the 2king of the children of Ammon died, and 3Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
a 1 Chron. 19:1, etc.
1 Compare this chapter with 1 Chronicles 19.
2 See of this king 1 Samuel 11, where he is called Nahash, as also here in the following verse.
3 Hebr. Chanun.
2Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of 4Nahash, 5as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the 6hand of his 7servants for 8his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
4 Hebr. Nachasch.
5 When and wherein this was done, is not mentioned in the Holy Scripture. It is possible that he showed similar kindness to David at the time of his banishments, as the king of the Moabites, 1 Sam. 22:4.
6 Or, service. Hebr. hand.
7 That is, of his officers or courtiers, whom as ambassadors he sent unto him.
8 That is, his father’s death.
3And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, 9Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? 10hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
9 That is, in your opinion. The meaning is: Do you think, or does it seem to you that David does this to honor your father?
10 Intimating, that he did it without a doubt for that very end and purpose. See of such kind of questions, Judges 4 on verse 6.
4Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of 11their beards, and cut off their garments 12in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
11 Hebr. the half of their beard.
12 Hebr. in or through the half.
5When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at 13Jericho until your beards be 14grown, and then return.
13 Meaning, the place or thereabouts where Jericho had in former times been built; for, Jericho was not built up again till Ahab’s time, 1 Kings 16:34.
14 Hebr. shall sprout. A comparison taken from herbs and trees, which sprout forth, green, bud, blossom.
6¶And when the children of Ammon saw that they 15stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and 16hired the 17Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of 18Ish-tob twelve thousand men.
15 See Gen. 34 on verse 30.
16 Namely, to serve them as soldiers in this war. This is the first history in the Holy Scripture wherein we read of mercenary soldiers who were hired for money to serve other lords and masters in wars.
17 See 2 Sam. 8 on verse 5.
18 See Judges 11 on verse 3.
7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the 19mighty men.
19 See of David’s mighty men, 2 Sam. 23:8, etc.
8And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the 20gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
20 Of the city Medeba, see 1 Chron. 19:7. This they likewise did to secure the city and (if need were) to retire in thither: (below verse 14) leaving the support by themselves apart in the field, to set upon Joab on the other side.
9When Joab saw that the 21front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array 22against the Syrians:
21 Hebr. face.
22 Hebr. in the meeting of Syria; and also in the following verses 10, 17.
10And 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.
11And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt 23help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
23 Hebr. be a deliverer.
1224Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD 25do that which seemeth him 26good.
24 That is, be strong, and let us be strong.
25 Or, will do.
26 That is, that which pleases Him.
13And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14And 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 gathered themselves together.
16And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the 27river: and they came to 28Helam; and 29Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
27 Namely, the Euphrates.
28 Hebr. Chelam. This place is nowhere mentioned in the Holy Scripture, but in this history.
29 Also called Shophach, 1 Chron. 19:16.
17And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in 30array against David, and fought with him.
30 Hebr. battle, etc. as verses 9, 10.
18And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David 31slew the 32men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand 33horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
31 Hebr. smote dead.
32 Understand, those, who fought from their chariots, on which they were carried; and hereby may be understood seven hundred troops of horsemen, each troop on a chariot consisting of ten men, which make together seven thousand; which number is expressly set down in 1 Chron. 19:18. See 2 Sam. 8 on verse 4.
33 In 1 Chron. 19:18 this is stated footmen or on foot; which may thus be compared, that besides the aforementioned chariots and horsemen, the greatest part of the army, both horse and footmen were slain, so that here the number of horsemen, and 1 Chronicles 19 a similar number of footmen is mentioned, that these nations were wont to go forth to battle with huge multitudes (as also David himself therefore went forth with all Israel) is clear and evident by the Holy Scripture. Others understand in this place seven hundred great and eminent chariots together, both great and small, to be seven thousand, 1 Chron. 19:18.
19And when all the kings that were 34servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and 35served them. So the Syrians feared 36to help the children of Ammon any more.
34 That is, who were subject to him or under his protection, or whom he had used for his service in this war.
35 That is, were subject and obedient unto them. Compare 1 Sam. 4:9 and elsewhere often.
36 That is, to assist, aid, help, succor, for to deliver.