David's Messengers Are Humiliated
Study note
When the Ammonite king Nahash died, David wanted to show kindness to his son Hanun, since Nahash had once been kind to David. But Hanun's advisors convinced him that David's messengers were really spies. Hanun shaved David's men and cut their clothes in half, which was an extreme public humiliation in the ancient world. A man's beard was a sign of his honor and dignity. David told his embarrassed men to wait in Jericho until their beards grew back.
1 Some time later, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son took the throne. Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
2 David said, 'I want to show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father was kind to me.' So David sent messengers to express sympathy about his father's death. But when David's men arrived in Ammonite territory to comfort Hanun, And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, 'Do you truly believe David sent these men just to comfort you? They are obviously here to spy on our land so they can invade and conquer it!' But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?
4 So Hanun seized David's messengers, shaved off their beards, and cut their clothing in half at the waist, humiliating them. Then he sent them away. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When David heard what had happened, he sent someone to meet his men on the road, because they were deeply embarrassed. The king told them, 'Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then come home.' Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
The Ammonites Hire Aramean Soldiers
Study note
The Ammonites realized they had made a serious enemy of David. They spent a massive amount of money -- 1,000 talents of silver, roughly 38 tons -- to hire 32,000 chariots and soldiers from Aramean kingdoms to the north, including Mesopotamia, Aram-Maacah, and Zobah. These hired forces and the Ammonite army positioned themselves for battle. David sent Joab and the entire Israelite army to meet them.
6 The Ammonites knew they had made David angry. Hanun and his people paid about 37 tons of silver. They hired chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-Maacah, and Zobah. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah.
7 They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army. These allies came and set up camp near the town of Medeba, while the Ammonites gathered their own forces from their cities. So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8 When David heard about this, he sent Joab with the entire Israelite army. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
9 The Ammonites lined up for battle at the city gate. The hired kings placed their soldiers in the open field nearby. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.
Joab and Abishai Defeat the Enemy
Study note
Joab found himself caught between two armies -- the Arameans in front and the Ammonites behind. He split his forces, taking the best troops to face the Arameans while his brother Abishai faced the Ammonites. Joab told Abishai they would help each other if either side became too strong, and he encouraged his brother to be brave. When Joab attacked, the Arameans fled, and the Ammonites retreated into their city when they saw the Arameans running away.
10 Joab saw that enemies were ready to attack him from both the front and the back. He picked Israel's best soldiers and arranged them to face the Arameans. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.
11 He placed the rest of the troops under his brother Abishai's command and positioned them to face the Ammonites. And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.
12 Joab told his brother, 'If the Arameans are too much for me, come rescue me. If the Ammonites are too much for you, I will come rescue you.' 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 help thee.
13 'Be brave! Let us fight with everything we have for our people and for our God's cities. And may the Lord do whatever he thinks is best.' Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
14 Joab and his troops advanced against the Arameans, and the Arameans fled from them. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
15 When the Ammonites saw the Arameans running away, they also fled from Abishai and retreated into the city. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
David Defeats the Arameans for Good
Study note
The Arameans were not finished yet. They called for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River under the command of Shophach. David gathered the whole army of Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and met them in battle. Israel won decisively, killing 7,000 chariot fighters and 40,000 foot soldiers, along with Shophach the commander. After this, the Aramean kingdoms made peace with David and became his subjects. They never helped the Ammonites again.
16 After their defeat, the Arameans sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River. Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army, led them. And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17 When David heard about this, he gathered all of Israel. They crossed the Jordan and got ready to fight the Arameans. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
18 But the Arameans fled from Israel. David killed 7,000 of their chariot fighters and 40,000 infantry. He also killed Shophach, the commander of their army. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
19 When Hadadezer's allies realized they had lost to Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After that, the Arameans refused to help the Ammonites ever again. And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.