mh_parser/vol_split/13 - 1Chronicles/Chapter 19.xml

<div2 id="iCh.xx" n="xx" next="iCh.xxi" prev="iCh.xix" progress="77.05%" title="Chapter XIX">
<h2 id="iCh.xx-p0.1">F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iCh.xx-p0.2">CHAP. XIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iCh.xx-p1">The story is here repeated of David's war with the
Ammonites and the Syrians their allies, and the victories he
obtained over them, which we read just as it is here related,
<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.10.1-2Sam.10.19" parsed="|2Sam|10|1|10|19" passage="2Sa 10:1-19">2 Sam. x.</scripRef> Here is, I.
David's civility to the king of Ammon, in sending an embassy of
condolence to him on occasion of his father's death, <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.1-1Chr.19.2" parsed="|1Chr|19|1|19|2" passage="1Ch 19:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. His great incivility
to David, in the base usage he gave to his ambassadors, <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.3-1Chr.19.4" parsed="|1Chr|19|3|19|4" passage="1Ch 19:3,4">ver. 3, 4</scripRef>. III. David's just
resentment of it, and the war which broke out thereupon, in which
the Ammonites acted with policy in bringing the Syrians to their
assistance (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.6-1Chr.19.7" parsed="|1Chr|19|6|19|7" passage="1Ch 19:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>),
Joab did bravely (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.8-1Chr.19.13" parsed="|1Chr|19|8|19|13" passage="1Ch 19:8-13">ver.
8-13</scripRef>), and Israel was once and again victorious,
<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.14-1Chr.19.19" parsed="|1Chr|19|14|19|19" passage="1Ch 19:14-19">ver. 14-19</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iCh.xx-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19" parsed="|1Chr|19|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 19" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iCh.xx-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.1-1Chr.19.5" parsed="|1Chr|19|1|19|5" passage="1Ch 19:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.19.1-1Chr.19.5">
<h4 id="iCh.xx-p1.9">Ill Usage of David's
Servants. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xx-p1.10">b. c.</span> 1037.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xx-p2">1 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 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 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 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 Then there went
<i>certain,</i> 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 <i>then</i>
return.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xx-p3">Let us here observe, 1. That is becomes
good people to be neighbourly, and especially to be grateful. David
will pay respect to Hanun because he is his neighbour; and religion
teaches us to be civil and obliging to all, to honour all men, and
to be ready to do all offices of kindness to those we live among;
nor must difference in religion be any obstruction to this. But,
besides this, David remembered the kindness which his father showed
to him. Those that have received kindness must return it as they
have ability and opportunity: those that have received it from the
parents must return it to the children when they are gone. 2. That,
as saith the proverb of the ancients, <i>Wickedness proceedeth from
the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.13" parsed="|1Sam|24|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:13">1 Sam. xxiv.
13</scripRef>. The vile person will speak villany, and the
instruments of the churl will be evil, to <i>destroy those with
lying words that speak right,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.6-Isa.32.7" parsed="|Isa|32|6|32|7" passage="Isa 32:6,7">Isa. xxxii. 6, 7</scripRef>. Those that are base, and
design ill themselves, are apt to be jealous and to suspect ill of
others without cause. Hanun's servant suggested that David's
ambassadors came as spies, as if so great and mighty a man as David
needed to do so mean a thing (if he had any design upon the
Ammonites, he could effect it by open force, and had no occasion
for any fraudulent practices), or as if a man of such virtue and
honour would do so base a thing. Yet Hanun hearkened to the
suggestion, and, against the law of nations, treated David's
ambassadors villainously. 3. Masters ought to protect their
servants, and with the greatest tenderness to concern themselves
for them if they come by any loss or damage in their service. David
did so for his ambassadors, <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.5" parsed="|1Chr|19|5|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. Christ will do so for his ministers; and let all
masters thus <i>give unto their servants that which is just and
equal.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.xx-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.6-1Chr.19.19" parsed="|1Chr|19|6|19|19" passage="1Ch 19:6-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.19.6-1Chr.19.19">
<h4 id="iCh.xx-p3.5">The Defeat of the Ammonites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xx-p3.6">b. c.</span> 1036.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.xx-p4">6 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 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 And when David heard
<i>of it,</i> he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
  9 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
<i>were</i> by themselves in the field.   10 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 <i>them</i> in array against
the Syrians.   11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto
the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set <i>themselves</i> in
array against the children of Ammon.   12 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 of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly
for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.xx-p4.1">Lord</span> do <i>that which is</i> good in his
sight.   14 So Joab and the people that <i>were</i> with him
drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before
him.   15 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.   16 And
when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel,
they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that <i>were</i>
beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer
<i>went</i> before them.   17 And it was told David; and he
gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them,
and set <i>the battle</i> in array against them. So when David had
put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.
  18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the
Syrians seven thousand <i>men which fought in</i> chariots, and
forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the
host.   19 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.xx-p5">We may see here, 1. How the hearts of
sinners that are marked for ruin are hardened to their destruction.
The children of Ammon saw that <i>they had made themselves odious
to David</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.6" parsed="|1Chr|19|6|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>),
and then it would have been their wisdom to desire conditions of
peace, to humble themselves and offer any satisfaction for the
injury they had done him, the rather because they had made
themselves not only odious to David, but obnoxious to the justice
of God, who is <i>King of nations,</i> and will assert the injured
rights and maintain the violated laws of nations. But, instead of
this, they prepared for war, and so brought upon themselves, by
David's hand, those desolations which he never intended them. 2.
How the courage of brave men is heightened and invigorated by
difficulties. When Joab saw that the battle was set against him
before and behind (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.10" parsed="|1Chr|19|10|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), instead of meditating a retreat, he doubled his
resolution; and, though he could not double, he divided his army,
and not only spoke, but acted, like a gallant man, that had great
presence of mind when he saw himself surrounded. He engaged with
his brother for mutual assistance (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.12" parsed="|1Chr|19|12|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), excited himself and the rest
of the officers to act vigorously in their respective posts, with
an eye to God's glory and their country's good, not to any honour
and advantage of their own, and then left the issue to God: <i>Let
the Lord do that which is right in his sight.</i> 3. How vain the
greatest art and strength are against justice and equity. The
Ammonites did their utmost to make the best of their position: they
brought as good a force into the field, and disposed it with as
much policy as possible; yet, having a bad cause, and acting in
defence of wrong, it would not do; they were put to the worst.
Right will prevail and triumph at last. 4. To how little purpose it
is for those to rally again, and reinforce themselves, that have
not God on their side. The Syrians, though in no way concerned in
the merits of the cause, but serving only as mercenaries to the
Ammonites, when they were beaten, thought themselves concerned to
retrieve their honour, and therefore called in the assistance of
the Syrians on the other side Euphrates; but to no purpose, for
still they <i>fled before Israel</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.18" parsed="|1Chr|19|18|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>); they lost 7000 men, who are
said to be the men of 700 chariots, <scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.10.18" parsed="|2Sam|10|18|0|0" passage="2Sa 10:18">2
Sam. x. 18</scripRef>. For, as now in a man of war for sea-service
they allot ten men to a gun, so then, in land-service, ten men to a
chariot. 5. those who have <i>meddled with strife that belongs not
to them,</i> and have found that they <i>meddled to their own
heart,</i> do well to learn wit at length and meddle no further.
The Syrians, finding that Israel was the conquering side, not only
broke off their alliance with the Ammonites and would help them no
more (<scripRef id="iCh.xx-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.19.19" parsed="|1Chr|19|19|0|0" passage="1Ch 19:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>),
<i>but made peace with David and became his servants.</i> Let those
who have in vain stood it out against God be thus wise for
themselves, and <i>agree with him quickly, while they are in the
way.</i> Let them become his servants; for they cannot but see
themselves undone if they be his enemies.</p>
</div></div2>