2 Samuel 10

Chap. X. Ver. 1—19. David sends ambassadors to Hanun, by whom they are shamefully treated, and David revenges the insult by the sword.—David having received kindness, in some way unknown, from Nahash, king of the Ammonites, hearing of his death, sends messengers to congratulate his son on his succession, and probably to offer him his alliance. His wise courtiers, however, took the men for spies, and treated them as slaves, by cutting off their beards, &c. “The beard, though despised by Europeans, is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge: for its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life.

The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. (De la Motraye.) The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans as well as Turks: the Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the seraglios, have their beards shaven as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer it to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for any one to appear with his beard cut off, than _ among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment.” (Niebuhr.) David was not faint in expressing his resentment, and when the Ammonites heard of it, well aware of the consequences, they sent to hire auxiliary forces to oppose him.

David collects therefore all his valiant men, with Joab and Abishai at the head of them. The former addressed his brethren in a short speech, which has never been exceeded by the heroes of either ancient or modern times: “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.” The Lord did so; and, on this occasion, gave David a most signal victory, though it is not easy to ascertain precisely the amount of loss suffered by the enemy. Joab, it is to be feared, was but a hypocrite in all his pretensions to religion; but his address may afford a motto to the Christian soldier—Let us be of good courage—and the Lord do that which seemeth him good! The issue, however, was, that all David’s enemies were subjected, and became tributary; and thus he experienced (as already remarked) a fulfilment of the promises that had been made to Abraham and the other patriarchs.

(Compare (2 Samuel 8))

Notes on the verses

Ver. 5. Lo-debar.—{This place appears to have been situated beyond Jordan; and was probably, as Reland supposes, the same as Debir or Lidbir. (Joshua 13:26).]—Bagster.

Ver. 10. Shall eat bread, &c.—[The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonious, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands these passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, as pointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. In a MS. note on (1 Kings 2:7). he tells us that it was to be understood of the omop (the term for an assembly of lords or a public feast,) and not of the daily and ordinary repast. Hence, though Mephibosheth was to eat at all public times at the king’s table, yet he would want the produce of his lands for food at other times, which it was necessary for Ziba to understand.

—Bagster.

Ver. 13. Did eat continually.—[Sir John Chardin, in his coronation of Solyman III. mentions a young Tartar prince as admitted by the king of Persia to his majilis; and, along with his admittance to these royal assemblies, considerable pensions were assigned for his maintenance. See Harmer’s Obs.]

Ver. 10. Ver. 4. Shaved off one half their beards.—We have mentioned above the reverence in which the Asiatics hold their beards; and D’Arvieux gives a remarkable instance of an Arab, who, having received a wound in the upper jaw, chose to hazard his life, rather than suffer the surgeon to take off his beard.—Orient. Cust. No. 104.

Ver. 5. Tarry at Jericho.—This city had probably not been rebuilt since the time of Joshua, and contained, ‘perhaps only six cottages, for the