2 Samuel 10:2

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 graceless as he will, David will show himself gracious by being grateful. The same Greek word χαρις signifieth both grace and gratitude. Neither doth the ill success he had argue that he did amiss, as Pellican will have it: for duty is to be done, however it speed or take with wicked persons. What if Hanun were a heathen king? might not his friendship be therefore sought? might not his father's courtesy be requited? If a very dog fawn upon us, we stroke him on the head, and clap him on the side: much less is the common band of humanity untied by grace.

As his father showed kindness unto me.] What this kindness was in particular, the Scripture showeth not: the Hebrews say, that when the king of Moab had slain David's parents and brethren - whom he left with him for safeguard from Saul - one of his brethren escaped and fled to Nahash, king of Ammon, who helped him. Abulensis, Lyra, Angelomus, and others say, that when David fled from Achish, king of Gath, he came to the king of Ammon, who showed him kindness, and out of his hatred to Saul, their common enemy, bestowed many favours upon him. This David now desireth to requite, but meeteth with coarse entertainment.