_A.M. 2967. B.C. 1037._ David's ambassadors are abused by Hanun, 2 Samuel 10:1. The Ammonites prepare for war and are routed, 2 Samuel 10:5. Their allies, the Syrians, rally and are defeated again, 2 Samuel 10:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king of the children of Ammon died_ Who, it appears by the next verse, was Nahash, to whom Saul gave a very great defeat at Jabesh-Gilead, 1 Samuel 11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As his father showed kindness unto me_ All generous minds are full of gratitude and compassion. David here remembers the ancient benefits which he had received from Nahash, and pitied his son, who had lost such a father. What those benefits were is uncertain. It is probable, however, that, being an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hath not David sent to search the city?_ Nothing is so well meant, but it maybe ill interpreted; and is wont to be so by men who love none but themselves. _And shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle_ He must not only have been very credulous, but of a bad... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tarry at Jericho_ Which was the first place to which they came in the land of Canaan, and then a private village, where they might remain obscure till they were fit to appear in public. _Until your beards be grown _ For though it was well known how they came to be deprived of them, yet it was not f... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the children of Ammon saw that they stank_, &c, They wanted not intelligence how heinously David resented the barbarous usage of his ambassadors; which is expressed by a phrase signifying that they were become very odious to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sent Joab and all the host_ He did not think it prudent to stay till they assaulted him in his own country, but went and invaded theirs. _And the children of Ammon came out_, &c. They drew up their army, either before Rabbah, the metropolis of the country, or before Medeba, in the borders of it,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The front of the battle_ Hebrew, _the face of the battle; was against him before, and behind_ That is, they had divided their forces, the Syrians appearing before him, and the Ammonites behind him. _He put them in array against the Syrians_ He also, like an expert commander, presently divided his a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be of good courage_, &c. These words, it is likely, were not spoken to Abishai alone, but to all the army by their officers, that they might not be disheartened at the sight of such numerous forces as in a manner encompassed them, but be so much the more resolute for the preservation of their count... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joab drew nigh unto battle against the Syrians_ He acted very wisely in assaulting the mercenary army first; for they that are _hired_ to fight generally take great care to save themselves, having little regard to the cause for which they fight. _Then fled they also_ They seem not to have struck a... [ Continue Reading ]
_They gathered themselves together_ Fearing David would fall upon them for assisting his enemies, they resolved to be beforehand with him, and therefore levied a new army to invade his territories. _And Hadarezer_ Who was king of Aram Zoba, in Mesopotamia; _sent and brought out the Syrians that were... [ Continue Reading ]
_David passed over Jordan_ In this expedition David seems to have commanded his army in his own person. But, notwithstanding, the Syrians appear to have begun the fight. _David slew the men of seven hundred chariots_, &c. The parallel place, 1 Chronicles 19:18, reads, _seven thousand men that fought... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kings that were servants to Hadarezer_ He being the most powerful prince in those parts, it appears there were several petty kings that were subject to him. _They made peace with Israel, and served them_ As it is likely Hadarezer himself also did: whereby God fulfilled his promise to Abraham, ... [ Continue Reading ]