2 Samuel 10

David sendeth Ambassadors to the King of the Ammonites, with presentation of his favour. Ver.1, 2, &c. But the same King entreateth the Ambassadors most shamefully, 3. And gathereth a great Army together against David, 6. Against whom David sendeth forth Joab and Abisai, who smite the Ammonites, and the Syrians that came to succour them, and return to Jerusalem, 7. The Syrians gathering themselves again together against David, are smitten and subdued by him, 15.

1. And it came to pass after that, that the King of the children of Ammon [See of this King, 1 Sam.11. where he is called Nahas, as also here in the following verse] died: and Hanun [Heb. Chanun] his son was King in his stead. [Compare this Chapter with 1 Chron.19.]

2. Then said David: I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahas, [Heb. Nachasch] according as his father shewed kindness unto me; [When and wherein this was done, is not mentioned in the holy Scripture. It’s possible that he shewed the like kindness to David at the time of his banishment, as the King of the Moabites did, 1 sam.22.4.] So David sent forth to comfort him by the Ministery [Heb. hand] of his servants, [i.e. his Officers, or Courtiers, whom as Ambassadors he sent unto him] touching his father: [i.e. his fathers death] and the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3. Then said the Princes of the children of Ammon unto Hanun their Lord: Doth David honour thy father in thine eyes, [i.e. In thy opinion or judgement: the meaning is, thinkest, thou, or seemeth ot unto thee, that David doth this to honour thy father?] because he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David therefore sent his servants unto thee, to search this city, and to spy it out, and to ruin it? [intimating, that he did it for that very end and purpose: see of such kind of questions, Judg.4.on ver.6.]

4. Then Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved their beard half off, [Heb. The moiety, or, one half of their beard] and cut their garments half off, [or, through the half, or, midst] unto their buttocks, and he let them go.

5. When they let David know this, then he sent to meet them; for these men were greatly ashamed: and the King said; Tarry at Jericho, [Meaning the place, or there abouts, where Jericho had formerly been built: for Jericho was not built up again till Ahabs time, 1 King 9.24.] until your beard shall be grown, [Heb. shall grow, bud forth. A compassion taken from herbs and trees, that sprout forth, green, bud, blossom] then return.

6. Now when the children of Ammon saw, that they had made themselves stick [See Gen.34.on ver.30.] with David, the children of Ammon sent forth, and nired [viz. To serve them as souldiers in this war. This is the first History in the holy Scripture, wherein we read of mercenary souldiers that were hired for money, to serve other Lords and Masters in the Wars] of the Syrians [see above chap.8.on verse 5.] of Beth-Rechob, and of the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot-men, and of the King of Maacha a thousand men, and of the men of Tob [see Judg, 11.on verse 3.] twelve thousand men.

7. When David heard this, he sent Joab forth, and all the Host, with the Champions, [See of David’s Champions, or Worthies, below chap.23.8, &c.]

8. And the children of Ammon marched forth, and put the Battalias before the door of gate: [Of the City Medela, 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 succour by themselves apart in the field, to set upon Joab on the other side] but the Syrians of Zoba, and Rechob, and the men of Tob, and Maacha, they were by themselves in the field.

9. Now when Joab saw that the field [Heb. face] of the Battle-aray was against him, before and behind, then he chose out of all the choices (men) of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians: [Heb. in the meeting of Syria: and so in the following verses, 10, 17.]

10. And the rest of the people the gave under the hand of Abisai his brother, who put them in aray against the children of Ammon.

11. And he said; if the Syrians shall be too strong for me; then thou shalt come to deliver me, [Heb. be a Deliverer] and if the children of Ammon shall be too strong for thee, then will I come to deliver thee.

12. Be strong, [i.e. Be of good courage, and play the men] and let us strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: now the LORD do [or, will do that which is good in his eyes. [that which pleaseth him.]

13. Then Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before his face.

14. When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians fled, they fled also before the face of Abisai, and came into the city: and Joab returned from the children of Ammon; and came to Jerusalem.

15. Now when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before the face of Israel, then gathered themselves (again) together.

16. And Hadarezer sent forth, and caused the Syrians to come out, that are on the other side of the River, [viz. Euphrates] and they came to Helam: [Heb. Ghelam, This place is no where mentioned in the Holy Scripture, but in this History] and Sobach, [called also Schophach, 2 Chron.19 16.] Hadarezers Commander in chief, (marched) along before their face.

17. When that was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and went over the Jordan, and came to Helam: and the Syrians put (the battle-aray) against David, [Heb. in the meeting, etc, as above vers.9.10] and fought with him.

18. But the Syrians fled before the face of Israel, and David slew [Heb. smote dead] of the Syrians seven hundred charets [understand with their horse-men, which sought from the charets, on which they were carried. And hereby may be understood sevenhundred troops or companies of horse-men, each troop or company on a charet, consisting of ten horse-men, which make together seven thousand. Which number is expressly set down, 1 Chron.19.18. See above chap.8.on v.4.] and fourty thousand horse-men: [for this is put, 1 Chron.19.18. foot-men, or foot: which may be thus compared, that besides the asore-mentioned cahrets and horse-men, the great part of the army, both horse and foot were slain, so that here the number of horse, and 1 Chronicles Chap.19. a like number of foot 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 charets, and the whole number of charets together, both great and small, to be seven thousand, 1 Chron.19.18.] Besides, he smote Sobach, their Commander in chief, that he died there.

19. Now when all the Kings that were Hadarezers servants [i.e. which were subjects to him, or under his protection, or which ha had used for his service in this Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them: [i.e. were subject and obedient unto them. Compare 1 Sam.4.9. and elsewhere often] and the Syrians were afraid to deliver [i.e. to assist, aid, help, succour, come to deliver] the children of anymore.