War with the Ammonites and their allies the Syrians = 1 Chronicles 19 David had now reached the summit of his prosperity and power. The historian has now to record how he fell from that height into a sin which brought shame and suffering upon himself and disaster upon his kingdom. This war with th... [ Continue Reading ]
David's ambassadors insulted by the Ammonites 1. _And it came to pass after this_ On this formula of transition see note on ch. 2 Samuel 8:1. _the king of the children of Ammon_ Forty years at least had passed since the events of 1 Samuel 11, so that this Nahash was probably the son or grandson of... [ Continue Reading ]
_as his father shewed kindness unto me_ Possibly in the course of David's wanderings: possibly by a congratulatory embassy on his accession (cp. 1 Kings 5:1): according to a Jewish tradition by receiving one of his brothers, who escaped when his parents were murdered by the king of Moab.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the princes of the children of Ammon_ The new king's counsellors were as foolish as Rehoboam's advisers (1 Kings 12:10-11). Their unjust suspicions of David's motives may have been excited by his recent conquest of Moab. _the city_ Rabbah, which was strongly fortified. See ch. 2 Samuel 11:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_shaved off the one half of their beards_ Compare the story in Herodotus of the thief who made some guards drunk, and for an insult shaved their right cheeks (II. 121). No grosser insult could have been devised. The beard was and still is to an Oriental the badge of the dignity of manhood. It was on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tarry at Jericho_ Jericho was on their direct way back to Jerusalem. David wished to spare them the mortification of returning to Jerusalem in such a ridiculous plight.... [ Continue Reading ]
Defeat of the Ammonites and their Syrian allies 6. _that they stank_ Lit. _that they had made themselves stink_: had brought themselves into evil odour, or, made themselves odious. Ancient history records many wars undertaken to avenge insults offered to ambassadors, whose persons have always been... [ Continue Reading ]
_all the host of the mighty men_ Lit. _all the host, the mighty men_. Elsewhere "the mighty men" appear to be distinguished from the main body of the army as a corps of picked warriors, (see note on ch. 2 Samuel 15:18); and we should perhaps read _all the host, and the mighty men_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_at the entering in of the gate_ This is generally supposed to be the gate of the Ammonite capital Rabbah. But the account in Chronicles states explicitly that the Syrian mercenaries mustered at Medeba, which was nearly 20 miles south-west of Rabbah, and clearly implies that it was the city which th... [ Continue Reading ]
_that the front of the battle was against him before and behind_ The Ammonites were posted in front of the city, the Syrians on the plain opposite to them: if he attacked either force separately, his rear would be exposed to the other. His choice of the picked men to attack the Syrians, and his taki... [ Continue Reading ]
_that he might put_them _in array_ Rather, AND HE PUT THEM IN ARRAY.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be of good courage, and let us play the men_ Lit. BE STRONG AND LET US SHEW OURSELVES STRONG: the same words as those translated in 1 Chronicles 19:13 "Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly." _for the cities of our God_ As the people of Israel were the people of the Lord, so th... [ Continue Reading ]
_they fled before him_ "They that are hired to fight generally have a great care to save themselves, having no regard to the cause for which they fight." Patrick.... [ Continue Reading ]
_then fled they also_ The rout of their allies left Joab free to help Abishai, and the Ammonites retired at once within the walls of the city. _So Joab returned_ He did not attempt a siege, most likely because the season was too far advanced. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 11:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Renewed attack of the Syrians. Their total defeat 16. _And Hadarezer sent_, &c. The correct form of his name is probably _Hadadezer_. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 8:3. He now mustered his vassals and tributaries (2 Samuel 10:19) from beyond "the river," i.e. the Euphrates. "Brought out" = caused to tak... [ Continue Reading ]
_seven hundred chariots … forty thousand horsemen_ The present text of Chronicles has _seven thousand chariots … forty thousand footmen_. It seems best to retain the reading _seven hundred chariots_, and follow Chronicles in reading _footmen_. But the omission of _horsemen_in the one and _footmen_in... [ Continue Reading ]
_the kings_that were _servants to Hadarezer_ His vassals and tributaries transferred their allegiance to David. According to ch. 2 Samuel 8:6 (assuming it to refer to the same war), the kingdom of Damascus was completely subjugated and secured by military stations. Both there and here it is implied... [ Continue Reading ]