On comparing this whole chapter with 2 Samuel 8:3; and 1 Chronicles 19 with 1 Chronicles 18, it seems not improbable that they are two accounts of one and the same war; the former account 2 Samuel 8:3 being inserted out of its chronological order. The numbers slain on both occasions, 42,000 2 Samuel... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KING - In marginal reference. Nahash, king, etc. The interval between the two events, not less than 50 years, and possibly more, is against his being the same as the Nahash of 1 Samuel 11:1. The Ammonites are almost always spoken of as the children of Ammon, from the name of their first ancesto... [ Continue Reading ]
The history does not record any instance of Nahash’s kindness to David, but the enmity of the house of Nahash against Saul may have disposed him favorably toward Saul’s enemy David, and if there was any family connection between David’s house and Nahash 2 Samuel 17:25 this may have increased the fri... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCES ... - Compare Rehoboam’s advisers 1 Kings 12:10. It is not improbable that David’s severe treatment of Moab 2 Samuel 8:2 was in part the cause of the fear of the Ammonites that a similar treatment was in store for themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
In 1 Chronicles 19:4, more concisely “shaved.” Cutting off a person’s beard is regarded by the Arabs as an indignity equal to flogging and branding among ourselves. The loss of their long garments, so essential to Oriental dignity, was no less insulting than that of their beards.... [ Continue Reading ]
STANK ... - A strong figure for to be odious or detested. Compare the marginal references THE SYRIANS OF BETH-REHOB - If identical with the Mesopotamians of 1 Chronicles 19:6, Beth-rehob is the same as Rehoboth by the river Genesis 36:37. Others think Beth-rehob (Rehob, 2 Samuel 10:8) the same as th... [ Continue Reading ]
This sufficiently indicates the greatness of the danger to Israel from this formidable league of Ammonites and Syrians.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME OUT - From their city, Rabbah Deuteronomy 3:11, Deuteronomy 3:15 or 20 miles from Medeba, where 1 Chronicles 19:7 the Syrian army was encamped. Medeba (modern Madeba) was taken from Sihon Numbers 21:30, and fell to Reuben Joshua 13:9, Joshua 13:16; in the reign of Ahaz it seems to have returned... [ Continue Reading ]
The two armies of the Ammonites and the Syrians were drawn up facing one another; the Ammonites supported by the city Rabbah behind them; the Syrians in great force, with numerous chariots able to manoeuvre in the plain in front of Medeba. If Joab advanced against either, he would have the other in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CITIES OF OUR GOD - This rather indicates that the relief of Medeba was one of the immediate objects in view, and consequently that at this time Medeba was still in the possession of the Reubenites. To prevent an Israelite city falling into the hands of a pagan people, and the rites of Moloc... [ Continue Reading ]
JOAB RETURNED - The great strength of Rabbah made it hopeless to take it by assault, and the Syrians were not sufficiently broken 2 Samuel 10:15 to make it safe to undertake a regular siege.... [ Continue Reading ]
HELAM - The place is unknown. Some prefer the translation of the Latin Vulgate: “their host came.”... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN HUNDRED CHARIOTS - More probable than the “seven thousand” of 1 Chronicles 19:18. The frequent errors in numbers arise from the practice of expressing numerals by letters, with one or more dots or dashes to indicate hundreds, thousands, etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS TO HADAREZER - This gives us an idea of the great power of Hadarezer, and consequently of the strength of Israel in David’s victorious reign.... [ Continue Reading ]