2 Samuel 10:14 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 10:14

The Syrians were fled - They betook themselves to their own confines, while the Ammonites escaped into their own city. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:6-19

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:14

So Joab returned. It seems strange to us that Joab should have made no attempt to follow up his victory. But as the Ammonites were posted close to the gate of their city, they would withdraw into it without less as soon as they learned that their allies were defeated. There was thus the certainty of a long siege before Rabbah could be taken. We gather from 2 Samuel 11:1 that it was late in the year when Joab won this victory, and it was part of the weakness of ancient warfare that a long... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 10:14

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. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 10:13-14

2 Samuel 10:13-14. 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 stroke, but provided for their safety by retiring into the city, near to which their army was drawn up. So Joab returned Here is no account of the number of the slain, who,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:1-19

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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 10:14

14. So Joab returned and came to Jerusalem—Probably the season was too far advanced for entering on a siege. :-. THE SYRIANS DEFEATED. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 10:1-19

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