SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 10
DAVID DEFEATS THE AMMONITES (vs. 1-19)
When Nahash, king of Ammonite died, his son Hanun succeeded him. David wanted to show kindness to his son by sending a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun. But the Ammonite nobles told Hanun that David was sending men to spy out their city and overthrow them. Hanun believed what his nobles said and seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard and cut off their garments in half and sent the army away. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men but the king told them to stay at Jericho until their bear had grown. Then they hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, a thousand men from Maacah and 12,000 men from Tob.
On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. Joab selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed against the Arameans. Then he assigned Abishia, his brother to fight against the Ammonites. Joab and his troops subdued the Arameans and the Ammonites fled before Abishai. So Joab returned to Jerusalem. The Arameans regrouped with Shobach as their commander and went to Helam. When David knew, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. They fought against each other and the Arameans fled. David killed 700 charioteers, 40,000 foot soldiers and struck down Shobach. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.
THOUGHTS:
David’s kindness to Hanun was being misinterpreted by Hanun’s counselors. They questioned his motives because they judged David on the basis of their own thinking. Be careful not to listen to wrong advise. Do not judge a person without a thorough knowledge of his real intent. Any wrong judgment may result to quarrel instead of peace.
In Israelite culture, having full beard was a sign of maturity and authority. So when the Ammonites cut off their beards by half, they suffered severe indignity. Cutting off their garments was also a sign of ridicule. That was why David was angered and engaged war with them. Joab said: “Be courageous! Let us fight bravely to save our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done” (v. 12). Joab has faith and action come together. There must be balance between divine sovereignty and human responsibility.