2 Samuel 10

2 Samuel 10

Shawn Bumpers / General

Introduction

Chapter 10 recounts how David acted with good intentions.

But his motive was misunderstood.

Whatever the case … David wished to show support for Hanun, the new king of Ammon.

But in doing so, he violated what was commanded in Deuteronomy 23 regarding the Ammonites and the Moabites:

Deuteronomy 23:6 NKJV

You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

There is also some symbolic meaning here for us.

v1-5

Having heard of the death of Nahash, David sent a delegation to console Hanun.

On top of this, it is always a wise political move to send ambassadors to establish good will.

Now, as for David’s motivation in sending this delegation, we have his words, “I will show kindness … as his father showed kindness to me.”

Could it be the other way around?

Deuteronomy 23:6 NKJV

You shall not seek their peace nor their prosperity all your days forever.

Verse 4 tells us how they treated the ambassadors that David had sent.

They shaved the ambassadors’ faces, leaving but one side of each beard intact, and then cut the men’s garments off at the waist and sent them out that way.

Leviticus 19:27 NKJV

You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.

The question might be asked, however, that if he suspected the men of being spies, why wouldn’t he have them executed?

v6–14

David had the ambassadors wait at Jericho, which was close to the Ammonite boarder.

It was an outpost, so there was minimal exposure to other people.

So, according to 1 Chronicles 19, he paid a thousand talents of silver to hire troops from the north.

With verse 7 we see that David appointed Joab to lead the army rather than lead it himself as he had done in the past.

The text doesn’t explain why.

So, being caught between the Ammonites and the mercenaries, Joab divided his forces.

He took the better fighters for himself … and before you think poorly of Joab … he chose to go against the more formidable force of the Arameans and the Syrians.

Back to our text … what if the mercenary army proved too strong for Joab AND the Ammonites too strong for Abishai?

The Ammonites never had much confidence in their ability to fight the Israelites.

This was why they hired mercenaries.

v15–19

The Ammonites were content with having retreated back to their city.

The Syrians, on the other hand could not stomach their defeat.

Shobach here is the same as Shophac in 1 Chronicles 19.

He was the commander of the army of King Hadadezer.

So, David was told that these forces were gathering against Israel.

And although David had not led the battle against the Ammonites, this Syrian and Aramean army with reinforcements was more formidable.