UNROLL
Dusk over the hills of Ammon: across a valley with a stream glinting between willows, the walled royal city of Rabbah on its steep hill, its one gate shut and a few lamps lit, an empty road winding up to it under a darkening violet sky with one star.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 19

David sends comfort to a grieving king. The comforters come home shamed, and a war begins.

19 verses≈ 4 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from Adam
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victoryChapter 19
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

David’s Messengers Disgraced

Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son.

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And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.”

Afternoon on the road below the walled hill of Rabbah: a small group of dignified Israelite envoys in good dyed wool robes lead two donkeys laden with gifts toward the city's single plain gate.

So David sent messengers to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him,

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Have not his servants come to you to explore the land, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

Evening on the road leading away from Rabbah: David's envoys walk away in a close group, heads bowed, their cloaks pulled tightly around them, faces turned from the viewer, their donkeys gone.

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

Late afternoon at the oasis of Jericho: five dignified Israelite envoys sit robed on mats under tall date palms outside a goat-hair tent, each with one side of his beard shaved away, while a newly arrived messenger rests a hand on one man's shoulder.

When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

Reflect

When kindness is misread

David meant comfort, and Hanun’s princes called it spying. Have you had kindness misread, or misread someone else’s? David’s first thought was for his shamed men: “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.” What does his care show you about answering humiliation?

David Defeats Ammon and Aram

Early morning on open ground before Rabbah: Joab and his brother Abishai grip each other's forearms in a soldier's farewell, ranks of Israelite spearmen waiting behind each of them.

When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

1 Chronicles 19:13

So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Joab’s brother Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

Question

Quick question

Hanun shamed David’s messengers and sent them away. David sent others to meet them on the road.

Where did David tell his shamed messengers to wait?

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

Early morning at a ford of the Jordan: King David, on foot and armed, wades at the head of a long column of Israelite fighting men crossing the shallow brown river between tamarisks and reeds, the hills of Gilead beyond.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him. But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army.

0:22

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Midday in the stone-paved gate court of the City of David: three Aramean elders kneel with open hands before King David, seated on a plain wooden seat in the shade of the gate wall, while Joab stands beside him and Israelite elders look on.

When Hadadezer’s subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were unwilling to help the Ammonites anymore.

Pray

Kindness, courage and covering

Ask the Lord for kindness that keeps on even when it is misread. Ask for courage like Joab’s, to do all you can and leave the outcome with God: “May the LORD do what is good in His sight.” And pray for anyone you know who carries shame, that they would be covered and restored.

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1 Chronicles 19

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A verse to carry with you

Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.

1 Chronicles 19:13

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