2 Samuel 10:4-19 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:11

And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me ,.... Which he might perceive by Joab's forces giving way, or by some signal agreed on between them then thou shall help me ; detach a part of his army to his support and assistance: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee ; in the same manner. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:12

Be of good courage, and let us play the men ,.... This Joab said, not only to encourage Abishai and himself, but in the hearing of the rest of the officers of the army, and of many of the people, to hearten them to the battle; who might be somewhat intimidated with the number of their enemies, and the position they were in, being before and behind them; and therefore he thought proper to make such a speech to them to animate them to light: for our people, and for the cities of our God ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:13

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians ,.... Fell upon them; attacked them first, began the battle with them; rightly judging, that if they, being hired soldiers, were closely pressed, they would give way, which would discourage the Ammonites, who depended much upon them; and the fight, according to Josephus F24 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 6. sect. 2.) , lasted some little time, who says, that Joab killed many of them, and obliged the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:14

And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled ,.... In whom they put great confidence: then they fled also before Abishai ; without engaging at all with him, as it seems: and entered into the city ; out of which they came, either Rabbah or Medeba, for their safety: so Joab returned from the children of Ammon ; did not stay to lay siege to their city, the season of the year not being proper for it, winter drawing near; see 2 Samuel 11:1 , and came to Jerusalem... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:15

And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel ,.... Considered it in their minds, and conversed with one another about it, and fearing what would be the consequence of it: they gathered themselves together ; not only the forces got together again, that fled before Joab, but all the kings of Syria united their forces together, as appears from 2 Samuel 10:19 ; supposing that David would avenge himself on them for assisting the Ammonites against him; and therefore judged... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:16

And Hadarezer sent ,.... The same with Hadadezer, 2 Samuel 8:3 , who was at the head of this confederacy, and to whom the rest of the kings of Syria were servants, 2 Samuel 10:19 , and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river ; the river Phrat or Euphrates, as the Targum; so the Arabic version and Josephus F25 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 6.) sect. 3. , who says, that he hired them: and they came to Helam ; which, according to the same writer, was king of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:17

And when it was told David ,.... What preparations the Syrians were making to fight him, and where they were: he gathered all Israel together ; all the fighting men in the country: and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam : which, according to Bunting F2 Travels, &c.; p. 140,141. , was twenty miles from Jerusalem. David seems to have gone himself in person to this war: and the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him ; they formed themselves... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:18

And the Syrians fled before Israel ,.... After an obstinate and bloody fight between them: and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians ; the word "men" is rightly supplied, for chariots could not be said to be slain, but the men in them; in 1 Chronicles 19:17 , they are said to be seven thousand, here seven hundred; which may be reconciled by observing, that here the chariots that held the men are numbered, there the number of the men that were in the chariots... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:19

And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer ,.... That were subject to him, and at his beck and command, at least were hired by him into his service: saw that they were smitten before Israel ; could not stand their ground against them, being too powerful for them: they made peace with Israel, and served them ; became tributaries to them, whereby the promise of the land of Canaan made to Abraham and his seed, as reaching to the river Euphrates, had its accomplishment, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 10:4

Shaved off the one half of their beards - The beard is held in high respect in the East: the possessor considers it his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it. Nothing can be more secure than a pledge of this kind; its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. Cutting off half of the beard and the clothes rendered the men ridiculous, and made them look... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 10:4

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