And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. Ver. 1. _The king of the children of Ammon died._] Death is the only king "against whom there is no rising up." as it is in Proverbs 30:31. Nugus, king of Scythia, slighted certain p... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. Ver. 2. _Then said David._] Let Hanun be as graceles... [ Continue Reading ]
And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? Ver. 3. _Thinkest thou that... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away. Ver. 4. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants.] His ambassadors, whom to misuse was against the law of nations, and severely pu... [ Continue Reading ]
When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return. Ver. 5. _When they told it unto David._] Who could not but feel his own cheeks shaven, and his own coat cut in his ambassado... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. Ver. 6. _Saw that they stank before David._] Who co... [ Continue Reading ]
And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. Ver. 7. _He sent Joab._] As far as Medeba, a city in the borders of Amnon, choosing rather to make that the seat of the war than his own country.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field. Ver. 8. _At the entering in of the gate,_] viz., Of Medeba; 1 Chronicles 19:7 _; _ 1Ch 19:9 for that bush... [ Continue Reading ]
When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians: Ver. 9. _He chose of all the choice men of Israel._] This was a special piece of military prudence in Joab, who was an accomplished... [ Continue Reading ]
And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put [them] in array against the children of Ammon. Ver. 10. _And the rest of the people._] Thus Joab, _consilium e re nata capiens,_ opposeth one stratagem to another, and getteth the day, though nothing so... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 11. _If the Syrians be too strong for me._] As the issue of war is uncertain, and the best cause hath not always the best success. How... [ Continue Reading ]
Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. Ver. 12. _Be of good courage, and let us play the men._] A brave speech, and such as than which a better could not have been uttered by any captain, saith Pellican... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. Ver. 13. _And they fled before him._] As not able to endure so fierce an assault of those most warlike soldiers, the flower of the whole army, - no, not the first shock. How many... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem. Ver. 14. _And entered into the city._] See 2 Samuel 10:8 . _ So Joab returned from the children of Ammon... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. Ver. 15. _They gathered themselves together._] That they might be broken in pieces, Isa 8:9 as all Immanuel's enemies must.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them. Ver. 16. _And Hadarezar sent._] He is elsewhere called Hadadezar: Daleth and Resh (ד and ר) being letters very like one to anoth... [ Continue Reading ]
And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him. Ver. 17. _He gathered all Israel together._] The best of all, and fittest for his purpose; leading them forth himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there. Ver. 18. _And David slew the men of seven hundred chariots._] Heb., Slew seven hundred chariots; that is,... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all the kings [that were] servants to Hadarezer 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. Ver. 19. _So the Syrians feared._] And perhaps engaged to fight no more in haste against Isr... [ Continue Reading ]