September 11,
2007
Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. (Numbers 10: 35 KJV
2 Samuel Chapter 10 Author:
Unknown KJV
David
Defeats the Ammonites
(2
Samuel 10:1-2 KJV) "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 show kindness unto
Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed 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."
Just as
David was kind to Mephibosheth in the previous David wants to extend his
kindness to the family of a pagan king who recently lost his father. Therefore David sends a delegation on
his behalf to offer condolences.
(2
Samuel 10:3-4 KJV) "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."
The advisors
to the new King did not trust David; they thought he might be snooping
around. It seems dishonest men
think everyone else is dishonest as was the case here. So King Hanun treats
David’s delegation very poorly. In those times a man’s beard meant
something. Women wear makeup and
earrings as marks of beauty, a man’s beard was the basic ornament of a man. It
was definitely a status symbol for clean-shaven men were counted as slaves. So
cutting off half of a man’s beard was disgraceful. A man’s would sometimes
pledge his beard if he fell through on a promise. But Hanun goes further and
cuts their clothes off of them basically at waist level, thus exposing their
buttocks and their private parts.
Insulting or disgracing a king’s ambassador is the same as
disgracing the king. Jesus said as
much when he told his disciples and us (John 15:18 KJV) "If the world hate you, ye know that it
hated me before it hated you."
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.
I can
imagine David took his delegation some clothes, perhaps met them in the
wilderness so they could hide their nakedness. Then the king told them to stay at
Jericho until their beards had grown keeping them from further embarrassment
from everyone in Jerusalem. When
the beards of the men had re-grown, David was going to attend to the matter of
their terrible treatment.
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that
they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of
Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah
a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
The
Ammonites brought this stench upon themselves and instead of apologizing to
David and the men, they now hire foreign armies to attack David and Israel. This was a common practice of the time,
so you might call them Soldiers of Fortune.
(2
Samuel 10:7-8 KJV) "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."
Joab went
out as commanded, and immediately found himself surrounded with the Ammonites to
his front and the Arameans and the Syrian soldiers of Rehob, Zobah and Maacah
were to their rear. So he Joab
splits his Army in two and has his brother Abishai commands the other
half.
(2
Samuel 10:9-12 KJV) "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."
Both armies
of the Israelites could make up one another if needed. Now Joab does a right thing, because he
allowed the Lord to have charge of the war rather than themselves. As a result the war will come out in
favor of Israel.
(2
Samuel 10:13-16 KJV) "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.
{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."
The Arameans
regroup and they are looking for a war against Israel. David finds out about
this.
(2
Samuel 10:17-19 KJV) "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."
David
defeats the Arameans; they became subjects of the Israelites and paid tribute to
Israel. The war with the Ammonites
is not over. More
tomorrow.
24 The LORD bless
thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his
face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up
his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
27 And they shall
put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless
them.
Numbers
6 KJV
Have
a blessed day
Lee
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