And the rest of the people he delivered into the hands of Abishai his brother ,.... Who was a commander under him, and a very valiant man; and thus, as his enemy had two armies, he divided his into two parts, that he might the better attack them: that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon : draw them up in a line, place them rank and file to meet the children of Ammon, and give them battle. read more
( 1 Chronicles 19:6-12 ). ( MEDEBA .) An agreement of mutual help. "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" ( 2 Samuel 10:11 ). 1 . On perceiving the effect of their treatment of David s ambassadors ( 2 Samuel 10:6 ; "That they had made themselves odious," 1 Chronicles 19:6 ), the Ammonites obtained, for "a thousand talents of silver," the aid of the Syrians of... read more
International quarrels. The facts are: 1 . The Ammonites, discovering the displeasure of David, hire mercenaries of the neighbouring peoples. 2 . As a countermovement, David sends out a strong force under Joab. 3 . The opposing forces coming into contact, Joab arranges that he should confront the Syrians, while Abishai deals with the Ammonites. 4 . Joab, exhorting Abishai to courage, in dependence on God, arranges also for mutual support, in case of need, in their... read more
Remembering former kindnesses (9:1-10:19)Although his power was now great, David did not forget his covenant with Jonathan. Unlike other kings, David would not destroy the family of the king whom he replaced (9:1; see 1 Samuel 20:12-17). David not only spared the life of Jonathan’s sole surviving son, the crippled Mephibosheth, but also restored to him Saul’s family property (2-8; cf. 4:4). David gave Mephibosheth the privilege of free access into the palace, and appointed one of Saul’s former... read more
B. God’s Faithfulness despite David’s Unfaithfulness chs. 10-12These chapters form a sub-section within the Court History portion of 2 Samuel. [Note: Youngblood, p. 920.] The phrase "Now it happened" or "Now it was" (2 Samuel 10:1; 2 Samuel 13:1) always opens a new section. [Note: Wolfgang Roth, "You Are the Man! Structural Interaction in 2 Samuel 10-12." Semeia 8 (1977):4; John I. Lawlor, "Theology and Art in the Narrative of the Ammonite War (2 Samuel 10-12)," Grace Theological Journal 3:2... read more
The War with Ammon and Syria2. His father shewed kindness unto me] Occasion not stated. 3. The city] i.e. their capital, Rabbah. The Ammonites probably were thinking of the severity with which David had treated the neighbouring Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2).4. Shaving the beard is the greatest insult that can be offered to an Oriental. The Arabs regard it as we should regard flogging or branding.6. Hired] cp. 1 Kings 15:18-20. Beth-rehob] near Laish or Dan (Judges 18:28). King Maacah] RV ’the king of... read more
Play the Man 2 Samuel 10:12 What is it to play the man? It is: I. To Take Things Seriously Of Louis XV of France it was said that, being wholly occupied with his amusements, he had not an hour in the day for important matters; while the best that could be said of our own King Charles II was that he was a 'merry monarch'. There was no true manhood there, to say nothing of royal dignity. II. Cheerful Courage. But along with this seriousness, this clear and frank recognition of things as they... read more
CHAPTER XIII.DAVID AND HANUN.2 Samuel 10:1-19.POWERFUL though David had proved himself in every direction in the art of war, his heart was inclined to peace. A king who had been victorious over so many foes had no occasion to be afraid of a people like the Ammonites. It could not have been from fear therefore that, when Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, David resolved to send a friendly message to his son. Not the least doubt can be thrown on the statement of the history that what moved... read more
7. The War with Ammon and the Syrians CHAPTER 10 1. David and Hanun (2 Samuel 10:1-5 ) 2. Ammon and the Syrians smitten (2 Samuel 10:6-19 ) The chapter with the war against Ammon and the Syrians is the prelude to the great sin of David. While Joab is carrying on the siege of Rabbah, the last city of the Ammonites, David, no doubt flushed with the great victory and prosperity, remained in his house and committed his awful sin. The war with Ammon originated through the insults which Hanun... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:6-14
Here we have, I. The preparation which the Ammonites made for war, 2 Sam. 10:6. They saw they had made themselves very odious to David and obnoxious to his just displeasure. This they might easily have foreseen when they abused his ambassadors, which was no other than a challenge to war, and a bold defiance of him. Yet, it seems, they had not considered how unable they were, with their thousands, to meet his; for now they found themselves an unequal match, and were forced to hire forces of... read more