This chapter gives an account of the ill treatment of David’s messengers to the king of Ammon, who were sent to condole the death of his father, and were basely used by him, which David resented, 2 Sam.

And it came to pass after this After the wars with the Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, being friendly with the children of Ammon, David sent an embassy to their king, after related; by which it appears what is said concerning the spoils of the children of Ammon, , is by anticipation; for these…

Then said David, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash Send him a friendly compliment of condolence on the death of his father: as his father showed kindness unto me; when David was persecuted by Saul, he sent him aid, and invited him into his country for protection it may be, and some…

And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord His nobles and prime ministers, the courtiers that were about him: thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? could he imagine that David was sincere, and that he really meant to do…

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…

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…

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David Or had made themselves odious to him, as it is rendered in ; 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…

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…

And the children of Ammon came out Either out of Rabbah their metropolis, as Josephus [[19]]; or rather out of Medeba, as it seems from ; a city that lay on the borders of their country, and was a frontier town, see ; and put the battle in array, at the entering in of the gate; of the city of…

When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind Or “the face” of it [[21]]; 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…

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…

And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me Which he might perceive by Joab’s forces giving way, or by some signal agreed on between them then thou shall help me; detach a part of his army to his support and assistance: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and…

Be of good courage, and let us play the men This Joab said, not only to encourage Abishai and himself, but in the hearing of the rest of the officers of the army, and of many of the people, to hearten them to the battle; who might be somewhat intimidated with the number of their enemies, and the…

And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians Fell upon them; attacked them first, began the battle with them; rightly judging, that if they, being hired soldiers, were closely pressed, they would give way, which would discourage the Ammonites, who…

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…

And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel Considered it in their minds, and conversed with one another about it, and fearing what would be the consequence of it: they gathered themselves together; not only the forces got together again, that fled before Joab, but all the kings…

And Hadarezer sent The same with Hadadezer, , who was at the head of this confederacy, and to whom the rest of the kings of Syria were servants, ; and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river; the river Phrat or Euphrates, as the Targum; so the Arabic version and Josephus [[23]], who…

And when it was told David What preparations the Syrians were making to fight him, and where they were: he gathered all Israel together; all the fighting men in the country: and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam: which, according to Bunting [[1]], was twenty miles from Jerusalem.

And the Syrians fled before Israel After an obstinate and bloody fight between them: and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians; the word “men” is rightly supplied, for chariots could not be said to be slain, but the men in them; in , they are said to be seven thousand, here…

And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer That were subject to him, and at his beck and command, at least were hired by him into his service: saw that they were smitten before Israel; could not stand their ground against them, being too powerful for them; they made peace with Israel,…