2 Samuel10
World English Bible · Public Domain
1After this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
2David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
3But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn’t David sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”
4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5When they told David this, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6When the children of Ammon saw that they had become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
7When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.
8The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate. The Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the field.
9Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.
10The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11He said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
12Be courageous, and let’s be strong for our people and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him.”
13So Joab and the people who were with him came near to the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him.
14When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem.
15When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
17David was told that; and he gathered all Israel together, passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David and fought with him.
18The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers of the Syrians and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there.
19When all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the children of Ammon any more.
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