X. Chapter s 10-12 give a detailed account of David’s war with the Ammonites and their allies the Syrians, and of David’s great sin, for which this war gave the occasion. The same war has already been briefly mentioned in 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Samuel 8:13, in the general summary of David’s reign, but is h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING. — His name is given in the next verse and in 1 Chronicles 19:1, as Nahash. He was probably a son or grandson of the Nahash whom Saul conquered (1 Samuel 11), as more than fifty years must have passed away since that event. The kindness he had shown to David is not recorded, but may have be... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SEARCH THE CITY. — The capital, and almost the only city of the Ammonites was Rabbah; it was strongly fortified, and a knowledge of its interior would be important to an enemy. The suspicions of the Ammonites may have been roused by David’s growing power, and especially by his conquest of the nei... [ Continue Reading ]
SHAVED OFF THE ONE HALF OF THEIR BEARDS. — According to Oriental ideas, the extremest insult which could have been inflicted. “Cutting off a person’s beard is regarded by the Arabs as an indignity quite equal to flogging and branding among ourselves. Many would rather die than have their beard shave... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRY AT JERICHO. — In consideration for his mortified ambassadors, David directs them to remain at Jericho, which lay directly on their road. Jericho had been destroyed on the first entrance of the Israelites into Canaan, and a solemn curse pronounced upon whoever “riseth up and buildeth this city... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW THAT THEY STANK. — The Hebrew, translated literally, shows that they were conscious that this was by their own fault — “that they had made themselves stink,” and is so rendered in 1 Chronicles 19:6. HIRED. — Chronicles gives the amount of the subsidy, 1,000 talents of silver, a sum variously es... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE ENTERING IN OF THE GATE. — The Ammonites and their allies formed separate armies, the former taking their stand immediately before the city, the latter “by themselves” at some distance, where the ground was more favourable for the manœuvres of their chariots.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JOAB SAW. — The keen eye of this experienced general at once took in both the advantages and the danger of this disposition of the enemy. He threw his whole force between their two divisions, organising his own army in two parts, one facing the Ammonites and the other the Syrians, but each capa... [ Continue Reading ]
BE OF GOOD COURAGE, AND LET US PLAY THE MEN. — Literally, _Be strong and let us strengthen ourselves._ The same phrase is translated in Chronicles, “Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves valiantly.” (Compare 1 Samuel 4:9.) Joab felt that the battle was a critical one, and on it depended the... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THE SYRIANS. — The attack was begun, not against both parts of the foe at once, but Joab threw the weight of his forces against the stronger division of the enemy while Abishai watched and held in check the Ammonites. His tactics were completely successful. The Syrians fled, and the Ammonite... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME TO JERUSALEM. — Why the victory was not at once followed up it is not said. Perhaps the army of Israel was too much exhausted by their victory; perhaps they were unprovided with the necessaries for a siege; and perhaps the season was already too far advanced. Whatever may have been the cause, t... [ Continue Reading ]
HADAREZER. — On the form of the name see Note on 2 Samuel 8:3. He felt the importance of the defeat he had sustained, and now evidently made an effort to rally all his forces, even calling together vassal tribes from beyond the Euphrates. THEY CAME TO HELAM. — The Hebrew word here is not necessarily... [ Continue Reading ]
HE GATHERED... AND PASSED. — David, hearing of the great Syrian rally, now took the field in person. Joab may have been with him, but more probably was employed at the south in holding the Ammonites in check and preventing their forming a junction with their confederates.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN HUNDRED CHARIOTS. — In this campaign David delivered a crushing blow upon his foes, from which they did not recover during the rest of his reign or that of his son. For the _seven hundred_ here 1 Chronicles 19:18 has _seven thousand,_ which is almost an incredible number of chariots, and the n... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS TO HADAREZER. — The vassal kings, who had been tributary to Hadarezer, now transferred their allegiance to David; but it is not said that Hadarezer himself became a tributary, though it is plain from 2 Samuel 8:3, that he was greatly weakened and suffered the loss of large booty. From 1 Kin... [ Continue Reading ]