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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T &nbsp; C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIX.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:1-19">2 Sam. x.</A>
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,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
II. His great incivility to David, in the base usage he gave to his
ambassadors,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>),
Joab did bravely
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:8-13">ver. 8-13</A>),
and Israel was once and again victorious,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:14-19">ver. 14-19</A>.</P>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Ill Usage of David's Servants.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1037.</TD></TR>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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?
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:13">1 Sam. xxiv. 13</A>.
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>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:6,7">Isa. xxxii. 6, 7</A>.
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,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Defeat of the Ammonites.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1036.</TD></TR>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 8 And when David heard <I>of it,</I> he sent Joab, and all the host
of the mighty men.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly
for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
do <I>that which is</I> good in his sight.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
&nbsp; 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.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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>
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>);
they lost 7000 men, who are said to be the men of 700 chariots,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:18">2 Sam. x. 18</A>.
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
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
<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>
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