2 Samuel 10:4-19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:1-5

Here is, I. The great respect David paid to his neighbour, the king of the Ammonites, 2 Sam. 10:1, 2. 1. The inducement to it was some kindness he had formerly received from Nahash the deceased king. He showed kindness to me, says David (2 Sam. 10:2), and therefore (having lately had satisfaction in showing kindness to Mephibosheth for his father's sake) he resolves to show kindness to his son, and to keep up a friendly correspondence with him. Thus the pleasure of doing one kind and generous... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:15-19

Here is, 1. A new attempt of the Syrians to recover their lost honour and to check the progress of David's victorious arms. The forces that were lately dispersed rallied again, and gathered themselves together, 2 Sam. 10:15. Even the baffled cause will make head as long as there is any life in it; the enemies of the Son of David do so, Matt. 22:34; Rev. 19:19. These, being conscious of their insufficiency, called in the aid of their allies and dependencies on the other side of the river (2... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:4

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants ,.... His ambassadors: and shaved off one half of their beards ; that is, he ordered them to be shaved off; than which a greater indignity could not have been well done to them and to David, whom they represented, since the Israelites shaved not their beards, and were very careful of preserving them; for had it been the custom to shave, they might have shaved off the other half, and then they would not have appeared so ridiculous; and with other... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:5

When they told it unto David ,.... Not the ambassadors, for they were not yet arrived, but some of their servants, perhaps, they sent before them to acquaint David of the usage they had met with: he sent to meet them : he sent men to meet them with proper garments to put on, and to assure them how much he resented the indignity done to them and him, and would avenge it in due and proper time, and to direct them where to go for the present, as follows: because the men were greatly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:6

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David ,.... Or had made themselves odious to him, as it is rendered in 1 Chronicles 19:6 ; were abominable to him, that he was incensed against them, and enraged at them, and was determined to be avenged on them for the affront given, of which they had certain information: but instead of seeking to appease him, and give him satisfaction for the affront: the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob ; a place... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:7

And when David heard of it ,.... Of the preparation made by the Ammonites to fight with him: he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men : he sent out Joab his general, and an army under his command, consisting of men of strength, valour, and courage; or all the host and the mighty men, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, the famous mighty men mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:8 ; he did not think it advisable to wait for the Ammonites, but carried the war into their own country, and, instead of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:8

And the children of Ammon came out ,.... Either out of Rabbah their metropolis, as Josephus F21 Antiqu. l. 7. c. 6. sect. 2. ; or rather out of Medeba, as it seems from 1 Chronicles 19:7 ; a city that lay on the borders of their country, and was a frontier town, see Numbers 21:30 ; and put the battle in array, at the entering in of the gate ; of the city of Medeba; they were first within the city, but, upon the approach of Joab and his army, they came out and drew up in a line... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:9

When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind ,.... Or "the face" of it F23 פני "facies", Pagninus, Montanus. ; armies appeared both before and behind, about to attack him both in front and rear; the Targum is,"and Joab saw that the warriors, or those that made war, were strong against him before and behind:" he chose of all the choice men of Israel ; the most eminent for strength, and valour, and military skill, who had been tried, and were... read more

John Gill

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:6-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:15-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 10:9

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

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