2 Samuel 10

AND it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon Nahash, v. 2. probably the same whose Army Saul defeated and destroyed, 1 Sam. 11. who out of enmity to Saul showed kindness to David, as it follows; hoping also by fomenting the differences between Saul and David, to make way for his future Conquests. died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash Therefore there had hitherto been Peace and Friendship between David and him; and therefore the spoils of the children of Ammon are mentioned chap. 8. 12. by way of anticipation, and with respect to the story here following., as his father showed kindness unto me Which he might do, either, by offering him his help, if he needed it; or, by supplying him with Military or other provisions upon occasion, or many other ways.. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants, for his father: and Davids servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David does honour thy father, that he has sent comforters unto thee? Has not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spie it out To observe where the City is weakest, and may soonest be taken. The ground of this suspition was, partly, the Conscience of their ill deserts and carriage towards the Israelites, whose quarrel David had espoused: partly, the opinion they had of David's policy: and partly, the severity of Gods Law particularly against them, Deut. 23. 6. which might easily come to their ears. And they knew David was a zealous asserter of Gods Laws., and to overthrow it?

Wherefore Hanun took Davids servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards Partly, that he might compel them to bear a part in their mourning, and that in such a way as was usual with them, but forbidden to the Israelites, Levit. 19. 27. Deut. 14. 1. which probably was not unknown to them: and partly, to fasten this as a reproach upon them, and to make them ridiculous and contemptible. Compare Isa. 20. 4. and 47. 2. and 50. 6., and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks This was worse than the former, because the Israelites wore no Breeches, and so their nakedness was hereby uncovered. Compare Isa. 20. 4., and sent them away.

¶ When they told it unto David, He sent to meet them He sent them Clothes and other necessaries., because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho Both because this was one of the first places which they came to in Canaan: and because it was now a very obscure Village; and therefore fittest for them in their circumstances: for it was not built as a City till after this time, 1 King. 16. 34. until your beards be grown For the want or loss of Beards was esteemed a reproach among the Israelites., and then return.

¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-Rehob Near Hamath, Numb. 13. 21., and the Syrians of Zoba Of which see 1 Sam. 14. 47. and 2 Sam. 8. 3., twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah i. e. Of that part of Syria which was under King Maachah: for Syria was a large Country, and there were divers Kings in the several parts of it. This part was near Gilead. See Deut. 3. 14. a thousand men, and of Ishtob Or, of the men of Tob, the Country where Iepthah dwelt, Iudg. 11. 3. Besides these, they hired others out of Aram Naharaim, or Mesopotamia, as appears from 1 Chron. 19. 6. and Psal. 60. title. And all these were forward enough to Combine against David, both to revenge their former losses and reproaches, and to give check to his growing greatness. twelve thousand men.

And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men Choosing wisely to carry the War into their Country, rather than to expect it in their own..

And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battel in aray at the entring in of the gate To wit, of Medeba, as it is expressed 1 Chron. 19. 7. which was a frontier City. See Numb. 21. 30. This place they chose for the Fight, that they might both defend that City and their Country, whereof that was the entrance, and, if need were, might retreat into it.: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field That by their numerous Forces they might fall upon the Israelites on the other side..

When Joab saw that the front of the battel was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in aray against the Syrians Which were the most valiant and expert Soldiers..

And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in aray against the children of Ammon.

And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people For the preservation of our selves and all our Brethren from that utter ruin which our Enemies design for us. Our War is not vainly undertaken to enlarge our Empire or Glory, but for our own just and necessary defence; and therefore we may hope for Gods Blessing and assistance it it., and for the cities of our God Which are devoted to his Worship and Service, and therefore he will plead their cause against his Enemies.: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good Let us do our parts, and quietly refer our selves and the event to Gods good pleasure, which we have no reason to distrust..

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battel against the Syrians He prudently falls upon them first, because they were but mercenaries, and not concerned so much in the Success as the Ammonites were, all whose interest lay at stake; and therefore not likely to venture too far in their defence.: and they fled before him.

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled In whose numbers and prowess they had the most confidence., then fled they also before Abishai, and entred into the city: so Joab returned from the children of Ammon Not judging it convenient or safe to pursue them; because the Forces were not utterly ruined, but only dispersed and put to flight, and so might easily rally together., and came to Jerusalem.

¶ And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together Partly, to wipe out the stain of Cowardize which they had now contracted: partly, to prevent that vengeance which they supposed David would execute upon them for their last attempt: and partly, to shake off the Yoke that David had lately put upon them..

And Hadarezer The same with Hadadezer, chap. 8. 3. sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river Who having engaged themselves in the former expedition, as was noted before, were now obliged to proceed in their own defence, being also persuaded and hired to this second Expedition, v. 19.: and they came to Helam; and Shobach Or, Shophack, 1 Chron. 19. 16. the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel i. e. The Chosen and Valiant Men pickt out of all Israel. together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam: and the Syrians set themselves in aray against David, and fought with him.

And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots Heb. seven hundred chariots: i. e. The Men belonging to them, that Fought in, or with them; as plainly appears, 1. Because the Men only, and not the Chariots were capable of being killed, as these are said to have been. 2. Because it is thus explained in the Book of Chronicles, which was written after this Book, for this end, to Explain what was dark or doubtful, and to supply what was omitted here; where instead of these Words, are seven thousand men which Fought in Chariots, 1 Chron. 19. 18. And this is a very common Metonymy; of which, See above Chap. 8. 4. and the Notes on 1 Sam. 13. 5. Although there might be 7000 Chariots in all, whereof 700 were chosen ones; according to the distinction made Exod. 14. 7. of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen For which in 1 Chron. 19. 18. is forty thousand footmen. Which may be reconciled divers ways. 1. Both these may be true, that he slew 40000 Horsemen, which being the most considerable part and strength of the Army, it might seem sufficient to name them, and every one could easily understand, that the Footmen in that case were certainly cut off; and that he slew also 40000 Footmen, as is said 1 Chron. where he mentions them only, because they were omitted in 2. Sam. and the Horsemen being expressed here, it was needless to repeat them in 1 Chron. 2. The Horsemen may be here called footmen, in opposition to those that Fought in Chariots; because they sometimes Fought on Horseback, and sometimes came down from their Horses, and Fought on Foot, when the place of the Battel was more commodious for Footmen, than for Horsemen; which it is not improbable was their Case here; for David, being a Soldier of great Prudence and Experience, and understanding the great Numbers of the Syrian Horsemen; whereas the Israelites had but very few, Deut. 17. 16. would doubtless endeavour to choose a place as inconvenient for their Horsemen as he could. 3. Peradventure the Syrians designed to bring the War into David's Country, and therefore hastned their March, and for that end put their Footmen on Horseback, (as has been frequently done in like Cases) who, when they came to the place of the Battel, came down from their Horses, and Fought on Foot. So there is no need of acknowledging an error of the Scribe in the Sacred Text: which, yet if it were granted in such Historical Passages of no moment to the Doctrine of Faith and good Life, it would not shake the Foundation of our Faith in matters of great Importance, which it might reasonably be presumed the Providence of God would more watchfully preserve from all depravation or Corruption., and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer To wit, for that time, or in that Expedition to which... e hired them. saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them: So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.