1-5 David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash are villainously treated 6-14 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai 15-19 Shobuch, making a new supply of the Syrains at Helam, is slain by David

AM 2967 B.C. 1037 An. Ex. 454
king Jud 10:7-9 11:12-28 1Sa 11:1-3 1Ch 19:1-3

2 Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

shew kindness De 23:3-6 Ne 4:3-7 13:1-3

Nahash 1Sa 11:1

as his father 1Sa 22:3,4

3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Thinkest thou that David doth [heb] In thine eyes doth David
not Ge 42:9,16 1Co 13:5,7

4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

and shaved The {beard} is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it, and, in matters of great importance, {pledges} it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge, for 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.} It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans. The Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the seraglios have their beards shaven, as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer them to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for anyone to appear with his beard cut off, than among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment. Le 19:27 1Ch 19:3,4 Ps 109:4,5 Isa 15:2

cut off Isa 20:4 47:2,3 Jer 41:5

5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

Jericho Jos 6:24-26 1Ki 16:34 1Ch 19:5

6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

stank Ge 34:30 Ex 5:21 1Sa 13:4 27:12 1Ch 19:6,7

Syrians of Beth-rehob 2Sa 8:3,5,12

Zobah Pr 25:8 Isa 8:9,10

Maacah Jos 13:11-13

Ish-tob. or, the men of Tob. Jud 11:3,5

7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

all the host 2Sa 23:8 1Ch 19:8

8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

at the entering This was at the city of {Medeba}, a city upon the borders of the Ammonites, and in their possession. 1Ch 19:7

Rehob 2Sa 10:6 Nu 13:21 Jos 19:28 Jud 1:31

9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

Jos 8:21,22 Jud 20:42,43

10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

11 And he said, 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.

1Ch 19:9-12 Ne 4:20 Lu 22:32 Ro 15:1 Ga 6:2 Php 1:27,28

12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

Be of good This is a very animating address, and equal to any thing of the kind in ancient or modern times. Ye fight {pro aris et focis;} for every god, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your countries. Such harangues, especially in very trying circumstances, are very natural, and may perhaps be found in the records of every nation. Several instances might be quoted from Roman and Grecian history; but few are more remarkable than that of Tyrteus, the lame Athenian poet, to whom the command of the army was given in one of the Messenian wars. The Spartans had at that time suffered great losses, and all their stratagems proved ineffectual, so that they began to despair of success; when the poet, by his lectures on honour and courage, delivered in moving verse to the army, ravished them to such a degree with the thoughts of dying for their country, that, rushing on with a furious transport to meet their enemies, they gave them an entire overthrow, and by one decisive battle brought the war to a happy conclusion. Nu 13:20 De 31:6 Jos 1:6,7,9,18 1Sa 14:6,12 17:32 2Ch 32:7 Ne 4:14 Heb 13:6

play 1Sa 4:9 1Ch 19:13 1Co 16:13

the Lord 2Sa 16:10,11 Jud 10:15 1Sa 3:18 Job 1:21

13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

they fled 1Ki 20:13-21,28-30 1Ch 19:14,15 2Ch 13:5-16

14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

A.M. 2968 B.C. 1036 An. Ex. Is. 455
gathered Ps 2:1 Isa 8:9,10 Mic 4:11,12

zec 14:2,3 re 19:19-21

16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

Hadarezer 2Sa 8:3-8 1Ch 18:3,5

the river. i.e. Euphrates
Shobach. or, Shophach. 1Ch 19:16

17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

he gathered 1Ch 19:17

18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

fled 2Sa 8:4 Ps 18:38 46:11

horsemen 1Ch 19:18

footmen
Shobach Jud 4:2,22 5:26

19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

servants Ge 14:1-5 Jos 11:10 Jud 1:7 1Ki 20:1 Da 2:37

feared 2Sa 8:6 1Ch 19:19 Ps 18:37,38 48:4,5 Isa 26:11 Re 18:10