M² n¹ 1,2-. David's purpose. Formed.
o¹ -2. Servant sent.
n² 3. David's purpose. Suspected.
o² 4. Servants insulted.
n³ 5. David's purpose. Defeated.948 to 942 B.C.
2 Samuel 10)
1: And it came to pass after this, that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2: Then said David, “I will show loving-kindness to Hanun (= favored) the son of Nahash, according as his father showed kindness to me.” (To show love is power. In carnal world to show love is weak)
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 sons of Ammon.
3: And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David does honor your father, that he has sent comforters to you? has not David rather sent his servants to you, to explore the land (cp. 1 Chron. 19:3), and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” (It does not compute. They think there is something fishy about it)
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. (This was a severe insult. Be careful around carnal men)
5: When they told it to 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.” (Protect yourself until the right time)
M O¹ 10:6-19. First and second wars. O² 11:1–20:22. Third war, and events.
O¹ p 6-12. Armies arrayed.
q 13,14-. Fight and flight. Ammon.
r -14. Return of Joab. Peace.
p 15-17-. Armies arrayed.
q -17,18. Fight and flight. Syrians.
r 19. Submission of enemies. Peace.
6: And when the sons of Ammon saw that they stank before David (= stunk in his nostrils. He was angry about it), the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob (= house of width [i.e. avenue or area]), and the Syrians of Zoba (= station), twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah (= oppression) a thousand men, and of Ish-tob (sons of good) twelve thousand men. (These are mercenaries)
7: And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
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 Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
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:
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 sons of Ammon.
11: And he said, “If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: but if the sons of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. (This is a good strategy)
12: Be of good courage, and let us be strong and let us put forth our strength for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seems to Him good.” (The main ingredient)
13: And Joab drew near, and the People that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14: And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city.
So Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15: And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. (The Syrians are a proud people)
16: And Hadarezer sent (= mighty help), and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river (i.e. the Euphrates): and they came to Helam (= strength); and Shobach (= expansion) the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
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.
18: And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians (1 Chron. 19:18 = 7,000, probably a scribes infirmity. Cp. 8:4 and 1 Chron.18:4), and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
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 (They found peace in David as the world finds peace in Christ. Salvation is open to EVERYONE). So the Syrians feared to help the sons of Ammon any more.