2 Samuel10
New International Version
1In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king.
2David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites,
3the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you only to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?”
4So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
5When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
6When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maakah with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob.
7On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men.
8The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance of their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maakah were by themselves in the open country.
9Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.
10He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites.
11Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you.
12Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”
13Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him.
14When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.
15After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped.
16Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River; they went to Helam, with Shobak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
17When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him.
18But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobak the commander of their army, and he died there.
19When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's messengers ill-treated by Hanun. (1–5). The Ammonites defeated. (6–14). The Syrians defeated. (15–19).
vv1-5
Nahash had been an enemy to Israel, yet had showed kindness to David. David therefore resolves gratefully to return it. If a Pharisee gives alms in pride, though God will not reward it, yet he that receives the alms ought to return thanks for it. Those who bear ill-will to their neighbours, are resolved not to believe that their neighbours bear any good-will to them. There is nothing so well meant, but it may be ill interpreted, and is wont to be so, by men who love nobody but themselves. The best men must not think it strange if they are thus misrepresented. Charity thinketh no evil. According to the usages of those days and countries, Hanun treated David's ambassadors in the most contemptuous manner. David showed much concern for his servants. Let us learn not to lay unjust reproaches to heart; they will wear off, and turn only to the shame of those who utter or do them; while the reputation wrongfully hurt in a little time grows again, as these beards did. God will bring forth thy righteousness as the light, therefore wait patiently for him, Ps 37:6, 7.
vv6-14
They that are at war with the Son of David, not only give the provocation, but begin the war. God has forces to send against those that set his wrath at defiance, Isa 5:19, which will convince them that none ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. Christ's soldiers should strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the success be. When we make conscience of doing our duty, we may, with satisfaction, leave the event with God, assuredly hoping for his salvation in his own way and time.
vv15-19
Here is a new attempt of the Syrians. Even the baffled cause will make head as long as there is any life in it; the enemies of the Son of David do so. But now the promise made to Abraham, Ge 15:18, and repeated to Joshua, Jos 1:4, that the borders of Israel should extend to the river Euphrates, was performed. Learn hence, that it is dangerous to help those who have God against them; for when they fall, their helpers will fall with them.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
חָנוּן: Chanun, the name of an Ammonite and of two Israelites
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
מָלַךְ: to reign; inceptively, to ascend the throne; causatively, to induct into royalty; hence (by implication) to take counsel
תַּחַת: the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Cross References
2 Samuel 10Direct parallel account of the Ammonite king's death and David's embassy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel account of Hanun shaving David's servants and cutting their garments.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account detailing the vast sum used to hire Syrian chariots and horsemen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of Joab's stirring military address of courage.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the Syrian kings making peace with Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God's law forbidding Israel from seeking the peace or prosperity of Ammonites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophetic sign of captives led away with buttocks uncovered, illustrating shame.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Classic accusation of espionage, mirroring the princes' suspicion of David's spies.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shaving of the beard as a profound insult, later endured by the Messiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prior defeat of Hadadezer of Zobah, whom the Ammonites re-hired.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows Nahash's earlier cruel threat to Jabesh-gilead, contrasting David's kindness.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms Jericho was an uninhabited ruin or obscure village at this time.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the land of 'Tob' (Ish-tob) where Jephthah previously fled.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Title references Joab's struggle against Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel details of David gathering Israel and crossing Jordan to Helam.
Supported by JFB
Parallel record of Syrian casualties, specifying chariot force numbers.
Supported by JFB