Early morning at the oasis of Jericho in the Jordan valley: tall date palms and green gardens around a spring, a few plain goat-hair tents among the palms with smoke rising from one fire, the brown wilderness hills behind, under a calm, pale sky.

The Book of

2 Samuel 10

David sends comfort to a grieving king. His men come home shamed, and a war begins.

19 verses≈ 4 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–4King in HebronThe house of Saul falls
5–6JerusalemThe ark comes home
7–10A house foreverGod's promise to DavidChapter 10
11–12David's sinBathsheba and Nathan
13–20The swordAmnon, Absalom and Sheba
21–24Last wordsSongs, heroes and an altar

David’s Messengers Disgraced

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

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And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as 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 some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, 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 off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

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

Question

Quick question

Hanun shamed David’s servants and sent them away, and David sent messengers to meet them.

Where did David tell his shamed men to wait?

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Ammon hires Aram

The Ammonites hired Aramean soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zobah in the north, from “the king of Maacah” below Mount Hermon, and from Tob. Joab fought “at the entrance of the city gate” of Rabbah; later David “crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam.” Zobah lay further north, beyond Damascus. The sites of Rehob, Tob and Helam are uncertain.

David Defeats Ammon and Aram

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.

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.

“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.

2 Samuel 10:12

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 Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

Reflect

“May the LORD do what is good”

Joab made his plans and promised to fight his hardest, then left the outcome with God: “May the LORD do what is good in His sight.” What are you working hard at right now? Write a prayer that does your part and hands the result to the LORD.

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach 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, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him. But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

0:22

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

When all the kings who were subject to 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.

Pray

Kindness and courage

David’s kindness to Hanun was thrown back in his face. Thank God that kindness done for Him is never wasted, even when it is refused. Ask Him for courage to do what is right and leave the outcome to Him, as Joab prayed, “May the LORD do what is good in His sight,” and for peace with those who would make us their enemies.

You’ve experienced

2 Samuel 10

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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.

2 Samuel 10:12

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