Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary

on the Whole Bible

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

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F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E S

CHAP. XIX.

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The story is here repeated of David’s war with the Ammonites and the

Syrians their allies, and the victories he obtained over them, which we

read just as it is here related,

2 Sam. x.

Here is,

I. David’s civility to the king of Ammon, in sending an embassy of

condolence to him on occasion of his father’s death,

ver. 1, 2.

II. His great incivility to David, in the base usage he gave to his

ambassadors,

ver. 3, 4.

III. David’s just resentment of it, and the war which broke out

thereupon, in which the Ammonites acted with policy in bringing the

Syrians to their assistance

(ver. 6, 7),

Joab did bravely

(ver. 8-13),

and Israel was once and again victorious,

ver. 14-19.

Ill Usage of David’s Servants.	B. C. 1037.

     

1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the

children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

  2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of

Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent

messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants

of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to

comfort him.

  3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun,

Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath

sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee

for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

  4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and

cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and

sent them away.

  5 Then there went certain, and told David how the men were

served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly

ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be

grown, and then return.

     

Let us here observe,

1. That is becomes good people to be neighbourly, and especially to be

grateful. David will pay respect to Hanun because he is his neighbour;

and religion teaches us to be civil and obliging to all, to honour all

men, and to be ready to do all offices of kindness to those we live

among; nor must difference in religion be any obstruction to this. But,

besides this, David remembered the kindness which his father showed to

him. Those that have received kindness must return it as they have

ability and opportunity: those that have received it from the parents

must return it to the children when they are gone.

2. That, as saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth

from the wicked,
1 Sam. xxiv. 13.

The vile person will speak villany, and the instruments of the churl

will be evil, to destroy those with lying words that speak

right,
Isa. xxxii. 6, 7.

Those that are base, and design ill themselves, are apt to be jealous

and to suspect ill of others without cause. Hanun’s servant suggested

that David’s ambassadors came as spies, as if so great and mighty a man

as David needed to do so mean a thing (if he had any design upon the

Ammonites, he could effect it by open force, and had no occasion for

any fraudulent practices), or as if a man of such virtue and honour

would do so base a thing. Yet Hanun hearkened to the suggestion, and,

against the law of nations, treated David’s ambassadors villainously.

3. Masters ought to protect their servants, and with the greatest

tenderness to concern themselves for them if they come by any loss or

damage in their service. David did so for his ambassadors,

v. 5.

Christ will do so for his ministers; and let all masters thus give

unto their servants that which is just and equal.

The Defeat of the Ammonites.	B. C. 1036.

     

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made

themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent

a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen

out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah.

  7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king

of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba.

And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their

cities, and came to battle.

  8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host

of the mighty men.

  9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in

array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come

were by themselves in the field.

  10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before

and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put

them in array against the Syrians.

  11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of

Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against

the children of Ammon.

  12 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 help thee.

  13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly

for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD

do that which is good in his sight.

  14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before

the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

  15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were

fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered

into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

  16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse

before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians

that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the

host of Hadarezer went before them.

  17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and

passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in

array against them. So when David had put the battle in array

against the Syrians, they fought with him.

  18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the

Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty

thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

  19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to

the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became

his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of

Ammon any more.

     

We may see here,

1. How the hearts of sinners that are marked for ruin are hardened to

their destruction. The children of Ammon saw that they had made

themselves odious to David

(v. 6),

and then it would have been their wisdom to desire conditions of peace,

to humble themselves and offer any satisfaction for the injury they had

done him, the rather because they had made themselves not only odious

to David, but obnoxious to the justice of God, who is King of

nations, and will assert the injured rights and maintain the

violated laws of nations. But, instead of this, they prepared for war,

and so brought upon themselves, by David’s hand, those desolations

which he never intended them.

2. How the courage of brave men is heightened and invigorated by

difficulties. When Joab saw that the battle was set against him before

and behind

(v. 10),

instead of meditating a retreat, he doubled his resolution; and, though

he could not double, he divided his army, and not only spoke, but

acted, like a gallant man, that had great presence of mind when he saw

himself surrounded. He engaged with his brother for mutual assistance

(v. 12),

excited himself and the rest of the officers to act vigorously in their

respective posts, with an eye to God’s glory and their country’s good,

not to any honour and advantage of their own, and then left the issue

to God: Let the Lord do that which is right in his sight.

3. How vain the greatest art and strength are against justice and

equity. The Ammonites did their utmost to make the best of their

position: they brought as good a force into the field, and disposed it

with as much policy as possible; yet, having a bad cause, and acting in

defence of wrong, it would not do; they were put to the worst. Right

will prevail and triumph at last.

4. To how little purpose it is for those to rally again, and reinforce

themselves, that have not God on their side. The Syrians, though in no

way concerned in the merits of the cause, but serving only as

mercenaries to the Ammonites, when they were beaten, thought themselves

concerned to retrieve their honour, and therefore called in the

assistance of the Syrians on the other side Euphrates; but to no

purpose, for still they fled before Israel

(v. 18);

they lost 7000 men, who are said to be the men of 700 chariots,

2 Sam. x. 18.

For, as now in a man of war for sea-service they allot ten men to a

gun, so then, in land-service, ten men to a chariot.

5. those who have meddled with strife that belongs not to them,

and have found that they meddled to their own heart, do well to

learn wit at length and meddle no further. The Syrians, finding that

Israel was the conquering side, not only broke off their alliance with

the Ammonites and would help them no more

(v. 19),

but made peace with David and became his servants. Let those who

have in vain stood it out against God be thus wise for themselves, and

agree with him quickly, while they are in the way. Let them

become his servants; for they cannot but see themselves undone if they

be his enemies.

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

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