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Matthew Henry |
S E C O N D S A M U E L
CHAP. X.
This chapter gives us an account of a war David has with the Ammonites
and the Syrians their allies, with the occasion and success of it.
I. David sent a friendly embassy to Hanun king of the Ammonites,
II. He, upon a base surmise that it was ill intended, abused David’s
ambassadors,
III. David resenting it
(ver. 5),
and the Ammonites prepared for war against him,
IV. David carried the war into their country, sent against them. Joab
and Abishai, who addressed themselves to the battle with a great deal
of conduct and bravery,
V. The Ammonites, and the Syrians their allies, were totally routed,
VI. The forces of the Syrians, which rallied again, were a second time
defeated,
Thus did David advance his own reputation for gratitude, in returning
kindness, and for justice, in repaying injuries.
| Hanun’s Usage of David’s Servants. | B. C. 1038. |
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1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children
of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
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.
3 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?
4 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.
5 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.
Here is,
I. The great respect David paid to his neighbour, the king of the
Ammonites,
1. The inducement to it was some kindness he had formerly received from
Nahash the deceased king. He showed kindness to me, says David
(v. 2),
and therefore (having lately had satisfaction in showing kindness to
Mephibosheth for his father’s sake) he resolves to show kindness to his
son, and to keep up a friendly correspondence with him. Thus the
pleasure of doing one kind and generous action should excite us to
another. Nahash had been an enemy to Israel, a cruel enemy
(1 Sam. xi. 2),
and yet had shown kindness to David, perhaps only in contradiction to
Saul, who was unkind to him: however, if David receives kindness, he is
not nice in examining the grounds and principles of it, but resolves
gratefully to return it. If a Pharisee give alms in pride, though God
will not reward him, yet he that receives the alms ought to return
thanks for it. God knows the heart, but we do not.
2. The particular instance of respect was sending an embassy to condole
with him on his father’s death, as is common among princes in alliance
with each other: David sent to comfort him. Note, It is a
comfort to children, when their parents are dead, to find that their
parents’ friends are theirs, and that they intend to keep up an
acquaintance with them. It is a comfort to mourners to find that there
are those who mourn with them, are sensible of their loss and share
with them in it. It is a comfort to those who are honouring the memory
of their deceased relations to find there are others who likewise
honour it and who had a value for those whom they valued.
II. The great affront which Hanun the king of the Ammonites put upon
David in his ambassadors.
1. He hearkened to the spiteful suggestions of his princes, who
insinuated that David’s ambassadors, under pretence of being
comforters, were sent as spies,
v. 3.
False men are ready to think others as false as themselves; and those
that bear ill-will to their neighbours are resolved not to believe that
their neighbours bear any good-will to them. They would not thus have
imagined that David dissembled but that they were conscious to
themselves that they could have dissembled, to serve a turn. Unfounded
suspicion argues a wicked mind. Bishop Patrick’s note on this is that
“there is nothing so well meant but it may be ill interpreted, and is
wont to be so by men who love nobody but themselves.” Men of the
greatest honour and virtue must not think it strange if they be thus
misrepresented. Charity thinketh no evil.
2. Entertaining this vile suggestion, he basely abused David’s
ambassadors, like a man of a sordid villainous spirit, that was fitter
to rake a kennel than to wear a crown. If he had any reason to suspect
that David’s messengers came on a bad design, he would have done
prudently enough to be upon the reserve with them, and to dismiss them
as soon as he could; but it is plain he only sought an occasion to put
the utmost disgrace he could upon them, out of an antipathy to their
king and their country. They were themselves men of honour, and much
more so as they represented the prince that sent them; they and their
reputation were under the special protection of the law of nations;
they put a confidence in the Ammonites, and came among them unarmed;
yet Hanun used them like rogues and vagabonds, and worse, shaved off
the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the
midst, to expose them to the contempt and ridicule of his servants,
that they might make sport with them and that these men might seem
vile.
III. David’s tender concern for his servants that were thus abused. He
sent to meet them, and to let them know how much he interested himself
in their quarrel and how soon he would avenge it, and directed them to
stay at Jericho, a private place, where they would not have occasion to
come into company, till that half of their beards which was shaved off
had grown to such a length that the other half might be decently cut to
it,
v. 5.
The Jews wore their beards long, reckoning it an honour to appear aged
and grave; and therefore it was not fit that persons of their rank and
figure should appear at court unlike their neighbours. Change of
raiment, it is likely, they had with them, to put on, instead of that
which was cut off; but the loss of their beards would not be so soon
repaired; yet in time these would grow again, and all would be well.
Let us learn not to lay too much to heart unjust reproaches; after
awhile they will wear off of themselves, and turn only to the shame of
their authors, while the injured reputation in a little time grows
again, as these beards did. God will bring forth thy righteousness
as the light, therefore wait patiently for him,
Ps. xxxvii. 6, 7.
Some have thought that David, in the indignity he received from the
king of Ammon, was but well enough served for courting and
complimenting that pagan prince, whom he knew to be an inveterate enemy
to Israel, and might now remember how, when he would have put out the
right eyes of the men of Jabesh-Gilead, he designed that, as he did
this, for a reproach upon all Israel,
1 Sam. xi. 2.
What better usage could he expect from such a spiteful family and
people? Why should he covet the friendship of a people whom Israel must
have so little to do with as that an Ammonite might not enter into
the congregation of the Lord, even to the tenth generation?
Deut. xxiii. 3.
| The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated. | B. C. 1037. |
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6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of
Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and
of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host
of the mighty men.
8 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.
9 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:
10 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.
11 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.
12 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.
13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him,
unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14 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.
Here we have,
I. The preparation which the Ammonites made for war,
v. 6.
They saw they had made themselves very odious to David and obnoxious to
his just displeasure. This they might easily have foreseen when they
abused his ambassadors, which was no other than a challenge to war, and
a bold defiance of him. Yet, it seems, they had not considered how
unable they were, with their thousands, to meet his; for now they found
themselves an unequal match, and were forced to hire forces of other
nations into their service. Thus sinners daringly provoke God, and
expose themselves to his wrath, and never consider that he is
stronger than they,
1 Cor. x. 22.
The Ammonites gave the affront first, and they were the first that
raised forces to justify it. Had they humbled themselves, and begged
David’s pardon, probably an honorary satisfaction might have atoned for
the offence. But, when they were thus desperately resolved to stand by
what they had done, they courted their own ruin.
II. The speedy descent which David’s forces made upon them,
v. 7.
When David heard of their military preparations, he sent Joab with a
great army to attack them,
v. 7.
Those that are at war with the Son of David not only give the
provocation, but begin the war; for he waits to be gracious, but
they strengthen themselves against him, and therefore, if
they turn not, he will whet his sword,
Ps. vii. 12.
God has forces to send against those that set his wrath at defiance
(Isa. v. 19),
which will convince them, when it is too late, that none ever
hardened his heart against God and prospered. It was David’s
prudence to carry the war into their country, and fight them at the
entering in of the gate of their capital city, Rabbah, as some
think, or Medeba, a city in their borders, before which they
pitched to guard their coast,
Such are the terrors and desolations of war that every good prince
will, in love to his people, keep it as much as may be at a distance
from them.
III. Preparations made on both sides for an engagement.
1. The enemy disposed themselves into two bodies, one of Ammonites,
which, being their own, were posted at the gate of the city; the other
of Syrians, whom they had taken into their pay, and who were therefore
posted at a distance in the field, to charge the forces of Israel in
the flank or rear, while the Ammonites charged them in the front,
v. 8.
2. Joab, like a wise general, was soon aware of the design, and
accordingly divided his forces: the choicest men he took under his own
command, to fight the Syrians, whom probably he knew to be the better
soldiers, and, being hired men, better versed in the arts of war,
v. 9.
The rest of the forces he put under the command of Abishai his brother,
to engage the Ammonites,
It should seem, Joab found the enemy so well prepared to receive them
that his conduct and courage were never so tried as now.
IV. Joab’s speech before the battle,
It is not long, but pertinent, and brave.
1. He prudently concerts the matter with Abishai his brother, that the
dividing of the forces might not be the weakening of them, but that,
which part soever was borne hard upon, the other should come in to its
assistance. He supposes the worst, that one of them should be obliged
to give back; and in that case, upon a signal given, the other should
send a detachment to relieve it. Note, Mutual helpfulness is brotherly
duty. If occasion be, thou shalt help me, and I will help thee.
Christ’s soldiers should thus strengthen one another’s hands in their
spiritual warfare. The strong must succour and help the weak. Those
that through grace are conquerors over temptation must counsel, and
comfort, and pray for, those that are tempted. When thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren,
Luke xxii. 32.
The members of the natural body help one another,
2. He bravely encourages himself, and his brother, and the rest of the
officers and soldiers, to do their utmost. Great dangers put an edge
upon true courage. When Joab saw the front of the battle was against
him, both before and behind, instead of giving orders to make an
honourable retreat, he animated his men to charge so much more
furiously: Be of good courage and let us play the men, not for
pay and preferment, for honour and fame, but for our people, and for
the cities of our God, for the public safety and welfare, in which
the glory of God is so much interested. God and our country was
the word. “Let us be valiant, from a principle of love to Israel, that
are our people, descended from the same stock, for whom we are
employed, and in whose peace we shall have peace; and from a principle
of love to God, for they are his cities that we are fighting in the
defence of.” The relation which any person or thing stands in to God
should endear it to us, and engage us to do our utmost in its service.
3. He piously leaves the issue with God: “When we have done our part,
according to the duty of our place, let the Lord do that which
seemeth to him good.” Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the
success be; let God’s work be done by us, and then God’s will be done
concerning us. When we make conscience of doing our duty we may, with
the greatest satisfaction, leave the event with God, not thinking that
our valour binds him to prosper us, but that still he may do as he
pleases, yet hoping for his salvation in his own way and time.
V. The victory Joab obtained over the confederate forces of Syria and
Ammon,
He provided for the worst, and put the case that the Syrians and
Ammonites might prove too strong for him
(v. 11),
but he proved too strong for them both. We do not hinder our success by
preparing for disappointment. The Syrians were first routed by Joab,
and then the Ammonites by Abishai; the Ammonites seem not to have
fought at all, but, upon the retreat of the Syrians, to have fled into
the city. It is a temptation to soldiers to fly when they have a city
at their backs to fly to. It is one thing when men may either fight or
fly and another thing when they must either fight or die.
15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before
Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16 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.
17 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.
18 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.
19 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.
Here is,
1. A new attempt of the Syrians to recover their lost honour and to
check the progress of David’s victorious arms. The forces that were
lately dispersed rallied again, and gathered themselves
together,
v. 15.
Even the baffled cause will make head as long as there is any life in
it; the enemies of the Son of David do so,
These, being conscious of their insufficiency, called in the aid of
their allies and dependencies on the other side of the river
(v. 16),
and, being thus recruited, they hoped to make their part good against
Israel, but they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, for he gathered
them as sheaves into the floor; see
2. The defeat of this attempt by the vigilance and valour of David,
who, upon notice of their design, resolved not to stay till they
attacked him, but went in person at the head of his army over Jordan
(v. 17),
and, in a pitched battle, routed the Syrians
(v. 18),
slew 7000 men, who belonged to 700 chariots, and 40,000 other soldiers,
horse and foot, as appears by comparing
Their general was killed in the battle, and David came home in triumph,
no doubt.
3. The consequence of this victory over the Syrians.
(1.) David gained several tributaries,
The kings, or petty princes, that had been subject to Hadarezer,
when they saw how powerful David was, very wisely made peace with
Israel, whom they found they could not make war with, and served
them, since they were able to give them protection. Thus the
promise made to Abraham
(Gen. xv. 18),
and repeated to Joshua
(ch. i. 4),
that the borders of Israel should extend to the river Euphrates, was
performed, at length.
(2.) The Ammonites lost their old allies: The Syrians feared to help
the children of Ammon, not because they had an unrighteous cause
(justifying a crime which was a breach of the law of nations), but
because they found it was an unsuccessful cause. It is dangerous
helping those that have God against them; for, when they fall, their
helpers will fall with them.
Jesus Christ, the Son of David, sent his ambassadors, his apostles and
ministers, after all his servants the prophets, to the Jewish church
and nation; but they treated them shamefully, as Hanun did David’s
ambassadors, mocked them, abused them, slew them; and it was this that
filled the measure of their iniquity, and brought upon them ruin
without remedy
compare 2 Chron. xxvi. 16);
for Christ takes the affronts and injuries done to his ministers as
done to himself and will avenge them accordingly.
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