2 Samuel 10
19 verses
The account of David's military campaign against Ammon and the Aramean allies, undertaken in response to the humiliation of David's messengers, illustrates the escalation of violence and the mobilization of imperial forces in response to insult. Hanun's response by shaving off half the beards of David's messengers and cutting off their garments is a profound humiliation in the cultural context of the Near East. David's response is to mobilize his entire army, yet the Aramean allies create a two-front conflict that requires military sophistication and divine favor to resolve. The chapter records Joab's military stratagem and his appeal to the troops to be courageous, framing the battle for YHWH, thus investing military violence with theological significance. The account of the battles emphasizes David's victory, yet the chapter also notes the heavy casualties and the cost of the campaign. The theological language frames the outcome as divinely ordained. The chapter serves as the military backdrop to the events culminating in 2 Samuel 11-12, in which David's personal transgression will occur against ongoing military operations.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
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.
0 1Open verse page →
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.
0 1Open verse page →
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?
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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 Ish–tob twelve thousand men.
0 0Open verse page →
7
And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
0 0Open verse page →
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 Ish–tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
0 1Open verse page →
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:
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
13
And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
0 1Open verse page →
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.
0 1Open verse page →
15
And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 1Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
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.
0 1Open verse page →
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.
0 0Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!