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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. X.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter gives us an account of a war David has with the Ammonites
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and the Syrians their allies, with the occasion and success of it.
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I. David sent a friendly embassy to Hanun king of the Ammonites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. He, upon a base surmise that it was ill intended, abused David's
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ambassadors,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:3,4">ver. 3, 4</A>.
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III. David resenting it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:5">ver. 5</A>),
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and the Ammonites prepared for war against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:6">ver. 6</A>.
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IV. David carried the war into their country, sent against them. Joab
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and Abishai, who addressed themselves to the battle with a great deal
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of conduct and bravery,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:7-12">ver. 7-12</A>.
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V. The Ammonites, and the Syrians their allies, were totally routed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:13,14">ver. 13, 14</A>.
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VI. The forces of the Syrians, which rallied again, were a second time
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defeated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:15-19">ver. 15-19</A>.
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Thus did David advance his own reputation for gratitude, in returning
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kindness, and for justice, in repaying injuries.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Hanun's Usage of David's Servants.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1038.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children
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of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
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2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of
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Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to
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comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And
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David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
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3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun
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their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that
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he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David <I>rather</I> sent
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his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out,
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and to overthrow it?
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4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one
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half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle,
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<I>even</I> to their buttocks, and sent them away.
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5 When they told <I>it</I> unto David, he sent to meet them, because
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the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho
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until your beards be grown, and <I>then</I> return.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The great respect David paid to his neighbour, the king of the
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Ammonites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:1,2"><I>v.</I> 1, 2</A>.
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1. The inducement to it was some kindness he had formerly received from
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Nahash the deceased king. He <I>showed kindness to me,</I> says David
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and therefore (having lately had satisfaction in showing kindness to
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Mephibosheth for his father's sake) he resolves to show kindness to his
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son, and to keep up a friendly correspondence with him. Thus the
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pleasure of doing one kind and generous action should excite us to
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another. Nahash had been an enemy to Israel, a cruel enemy
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:2">1 Sam. xi. 2</A>),
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and yet had shown kindness to David, perhaps only in contradiction to
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Saul, who was unkind to him: however, if David receives kindness, he is
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not nice in examining the grounds and principles of it, but resolves
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gratefully to return it. If a Pharisee give alms in pride, though God
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will not reward him, yet he that receives the alms ought to return
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thanks for it. God knows the heart, but we do not.
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2. The particular instance of respect was sending an embassy to condole
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with him on his father's death, as is common among princes in alliance
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with each other: <I>David sent to comfort him.</I> Note, It is a
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comfort to children, when their parents are dead, to find that their
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parents' friends are theirs, and that they intend to keep up an
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acquaintance with them. It is a comfort to mourners to find that there
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are those who mourn with them, are sensible of their loss and share
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with them in it. It is a comfort to those who are honouring the memory
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of their deceased relations to find there are others who likewise
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honour it and who had a value for those whom they valued.</P>
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<P>
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II. The great affront which Hanun the king of the Ammonites put upon
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David in his ambassadors.
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1. He hearkened to the spiteful suggestions of his princes, who
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insinuated that David's ambassadors, under pretence of being
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comforters, were sent as spies,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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False men are ready to think others as false as themselves; and those
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that bear ill-will to their neighbours are resolved not to believe that
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their neighbours bear any good-will to them. They would not thus have
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imagined that David dissembled but that they were conscious to
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themselves that they could have dissembled, to serve a turn. Unfounded
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suspicion argues a wicked mind. Bishop Patrick's note on this is that
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"there is nothing so well meant but it may be ill interpreted, and is
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wont to be so by men who love nobody but themselves." Men of the
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greatest honour and virtue must not think it strange if they be thus
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misrepresented. <I>Charity thinketh no evil.</I>
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2. Entertaining this vile suggestion, he basely abused David's
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ambassadors, like a man of a sordid villainous spirit, that was fitter
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to rake a kennel than to wear a crown. If he had any reason to suspect
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that David's messengers came on a bad design, he would have done
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prudently enough to be upon the reserve with them, and to dismiss them
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as soon as he could; but it is plain he only sought an occasion to put
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the utmost disgrace he could upon them, out of an antipathy to their
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king and their country. They were themselves men of honour, and much
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more so as they represented the prince that sent them; they and their
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reputation were under the special protection of the law of nations;
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they put a confidence in the Ammonites, and came among them unarmed;
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yet Hanun used them like rogues and vagabonds, and worse, <I>shaved off
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the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the
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midst,</I> to expose them to the contempt and ridicule of his servants,
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that they might make sport with them and that these men might seem
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vile.</P>
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<P>
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III. David's tender concern for his servants that were thus abused. He
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sent to meet them, and to let them know how much he interested himself
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in their quarrel and how soon he would avenge it, and directed them to
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stay at Jericho, a private place, where they would not have occasion to
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come into company, till that half of their beards which was shaved off
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had grown to such a length that the other half might be decently cut to
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it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The Jews wore their beards long, reckoning it an honour to appear aged
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and grave; and therefore it was not fit that persons of their rank and
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figure should appear at court unlike their neighbours. Change of
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raiment, it is likely, they had with them, to put on, instead of that
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which was cut off; but the loss of their beards would not be so soon
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repaired; yet in time these would grow again, and all would be well.
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Let us learn not to lay too much to heart unjust reproaches; after
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awhile they will wear off of themselves, and turn only to the shame of
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their authors, while the injured reputation in a little time grows
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again, as these beards did. God will <I>bring forth thy righteousness
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as the light,</I> therefore <I>wait patiently for him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:6,7">Ps. xxxvii. 6, 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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Some have thought that David, in the indignity he received from the
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king of Ammon, was but well enough served for courting and
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complimenting that pagan prince, whom he knew to be an inveterate enemy
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to Israel, and might now remember how, when he would have put out the
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right eyes of the men of Jabesh-Gilead, he designed that, as he did
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this, for a <I>reproach upon all Israel,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:2">1 Sam. xi. 2</A>.
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What better usage could he expect from such a spiteful family and
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people? Why should he covet the friendship of a people whom Israel must
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have so little to do with as that an Ammonite might not <I>enter into
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the congregation of the Lord, even to the tenth generation?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+23:3">Deut. xxiii. 3</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Ammonites and Syrians Defeated.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1037.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
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David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of
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Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and
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of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
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7 And when David heard of <I>it,</I> he sent Joab, and all the host
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of the mighty men.
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8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in
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array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba,
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and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, <I>were</I> by themselves in the
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field.
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9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him
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before and behind, he chose of all the choice <I>men</I> of Israel,
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and put <I>them</I> in array against the Syrians:
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10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of
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Abishai his brother, that he might put <I>them</I> in array against
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the children of Ammon.
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11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou
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shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for
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thee, then I will come and help thee.
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12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people,
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and for the cities of our God: and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> do that which seemeth
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him good.
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13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that <I>were</I> with him,
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unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
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14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were
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fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the
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city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to
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Jerusalem.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,
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I. The preparation which the Ammonites made for war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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They saw they had made themselves very odious to David and obnoxious to
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his just displeasure. This they might easily have foreseen when they
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abused his ambassadors, which was no other than a challenge to war, and
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a bold defiance of him. Yet, it seems, they had not considered how
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unable they were, with their thousands, to meet his; for now they found
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themselves an unequal match, and were forced to hire forces of other
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nations into their service. Thus sinners daringly provoke God, and
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expose themselves to his wrath, and never consider that he is
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<I>stronger than they,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:22">1 Cor. x. 22</A>.
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The Ammonites gave the affront first, and they were the first that
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raised forces to justify it. Had they humbled themselves, and begged
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David's pardon, probably an honorary satisfaction might have atoned for
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the offence. But, when they were thus desperately resolved to stand by
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what they had done, they courted their own ruin.</P>
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<P>
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II. The speedy descent which David's forces made upon them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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When David heard of their military preparations, he sent Joab with a
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great army to attack them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Those that are at war with the Son of David not only give the
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provocation, but begin the war; for he <I>waits to be gracious,</I> but
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they <I>strengthen themselves against him,</I> and therefore, <I>if
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they turn not, he will whet his sword,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+7:12">Ps. vii. 12</A>.
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God has forces to send against those that set his wrath at defiance
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:19">Isa. v. 19</A>),
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which will convince them, when it is too late, that <I>none ever
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hardened his heart against God and prospered.</I> It was David's
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prudence to carry the war into their country, and fight them at the
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entering in of the gate of their capital city, <I>Rabbah,</I> as some
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think, or <I>Medeba,</I> a city in their borders, before which they
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pitched to guard their coast,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:7">1 Chron. xix. 7</A>.
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Such are the terrors and desolations of war that every good prince
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will, in love to his people, keep it as much as may be at a distance
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from them.</P>
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<P>
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III. Preparations made on both sides for an engagement.
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1. The enemy disposed themselves into two bodies, one of Ammonites,
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which, being their own, were posted at the gate of the city; the other
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of Syrians, whom they had taken into their pay, and who were therefore
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posted at a distance in the field, to charge the forces of Israel in
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the flank or rear, while the Ammonites charged them in the front,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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2. Joab, like a wise general, was soon aware of the design, and
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accordingly divided his forces: the choicest men he took under his own
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command, to fight the Syrians, whom probably he knew to be the better
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soldiers, and, being hired men, better versed in the arts of war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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The rest of the forces he put under the command of Abishai his brother,
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to engage the Ammonites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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It should seem, Joab found the enemy so well prepared to receive them
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that his conduct and courage were never so tried as now.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Joab's speech before the battle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>.
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It is not long, but pertinent, and brave.
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1. He prudently concerts the matter with Abishai his brother, that the
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dividing of the forces might not be the weakening of them, but that,
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which part soever was borne hard upon, the other should come in to its
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assistance. He supposes the worst, that one of them should be obliged
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to give back; and in that case, upon a signal given, the other should
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send a detachment to relieve it. Note, Mutual helpfulness is brotherly
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duty. If occasion be, <I>thou shalt help me, and I will help thee.</I>
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Christ's soldiers should thus strengthen one another's hands in their
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spiritual warfare. The strong must succour and help the weak. Those
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that through grace are conquerors over temptation must counsel, and
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comfort, and pray for, those that are tempted. <I>When thou art
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converted, strengthen thy brethren,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:32">Luke xxii. 32</A>.
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The members of the natural body help one another,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:21">1 Cor. xii. 21</A>.
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2. He bravely encourages himself, and his brother, and the rest of the
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officers and soldiers, to do their utmost. Great dangers put an edge
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upon true courage. When Joab saw the front of the battle was against
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him, both before and behind, instead of giving orders to make an
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honourable retreat, he animated his men to charge so much more
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furiously: <I>Be of good courage and let us play the men,</I> not for
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pay and preferment, for honour and fame, but <I>for our people, and for
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the cities of our God,</I> for the public safety and welfare, in which
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the glory of God is so much interested. <I>God and our country</I> was
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the word. "Let us be valiant, from a principle of love to Israel, that
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are our people, descended from the same stock, for whom we are
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employed, and in whose peace we shall have peace; and from a principle
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of love to God, for they are his cities that we are fighting in the
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defence of." The relation which any person or thing stands in to God
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should endear it to us, and engage us to do our utmost in its service.
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3. He piously leaves the issue with God: "When we have done our part,
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according to the duty of our place, <I>let the Lord do that which
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seemeth to him good.</I>" Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the
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success be; let God's work be done by us, and then God's will be done
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concerning us. When we make conscience of doing our duty we may, with
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|
the greatest satisfaction, leave the event with God, not thinking that
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our valour binds him to prosper us, but that still he may do as he
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pleases, yet hoping for his salvation in his own way and time.</P>
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<P>
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V. The victory Joab obtained over the confederate forces of Syria and
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Ammon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>.
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He provided for the worst, and put the case that the Syrians and
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Ammonites might prove too strong for him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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but he proved too strong for them both. We do not hinder our success by
|
|
preparing for disappointment. The Syrians were first routed by Joab,
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|
and then the Ammonites by Abishai; the Ammonites seem not to have
|
|
fought at all, but, upon the retreat of the Syrians, to have fled into
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the city. It is a temptation to soldiers to fly when they have a city
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|
at their backs to fly to. It is one thing when men may either fight or
|
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fly and another thing when they must either fight or die.</P>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa10_19"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before
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|
Israel, they gathered themselves together.
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16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that <I>were</I>
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|
beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain
|
|
of the host of Hadarezer <I>went</I> before them.
|
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17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together,
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|
and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set
|
|
themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
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18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew <I>the men
|
|
of</I> seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand
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horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died
|
|
there.
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19 And when all the kings <I>that were</I> servants to Hadarezer saw
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|
that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with
|
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Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the
|
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children of Ammon any more.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
|
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|
|
1. A new attempt of the Syrians to recover their lost honour and to
|
|
check the progress of David's victorious arms. The forces that were
|
|
lately dispersed rallied again, and <I>gathered themselves
|
|
together,</I>
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
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|
Even the baffled cause will make head as long as there is any life in
|
|
it; the enemies of the Son of David do so,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+22:34,Re+19:19">Matt, xxii. 34; Rev. xix. 19</A>.
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These, being conscious of their insufficiency, called in the aid of
|
|
their allies and dependencies on the other side of <I>the river</I>
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, being thus recruited, they hoped to make their part good against
|
|
Israel, but <I>they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, for he gathered
|
|
them as sheaves into the floor;</I> see
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|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mic+4:11-13">Mic. iv. 11-13</A>.
|
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|
2. The defeat of this attempt by the vigilance and valour of David,
|
|
who, upon notice of their design, resolved not to stay till they
|
|
attacked him, but went in person at the head of his army over Jordan
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, in a pitched battle, routed the Syrians
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
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|
slew 7000 men, who belonged to 700 chariots, and 40,000 other soldiers,
|
|
horse and foot, as appears by comparing
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+19:18">1 Chron. xix. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their general was killed in the battle, and David came home in triumph,
|
|
no doubt.
|
|
|
|
3. The consequence of this victory over the Syrians.
|
|
|
|
(1.) David gained several tributaries,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+10:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The kings,</I> or petty princes, that had been subject to Hadarezer,
|
|
when they saw how powerful David was, very wisely <I>made peace with
|
|
Israel,</I> whom they found they could not make war with, <I>and served
|
|
them,</I> since they were able to give them protection. Thus the
|
|
promise made to Abraham
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:18">Gen. xv. 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
and repeated to Joshua
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+1:4"><I>ch.</I> i. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
that the borders of Israel should extend to the river Euphrates, was
|
|
performed, at length.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The Ammonites lost their old allies: <I>The Syrians feared to help
|
|
the children of Ammon,</I> not because they had an unrighteous cause
|
|
(justifying a crime which was a breach of the law of nations), but
|
|
because they found it was an unsuccessful cause. It is dangerous
|
|
helping those that have God against them; for, when they fall, their
|
|
helpers will fall with them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Jesus Christ, the Son of David, sent his ambassadors, his apostles and
|
|
ministers, after all his servants the prophets, to the Jewish church
|
|
and nation; but they treated them shamefully, as Hanun did David's
|
|
ambassadors, mocked them, abused them, slew them; and it was this that
|
|
filled the measure of their iniquity, and brought upon them ruin
|
|
without remedy
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:35,41,22:7,2Ch+26:16">Matt. xxi. 35, 41; xxii. 7;
|
|
compare 2 Chron. xxvi. 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
for Christ takes the affronts and injuries done to his ministers as
|
|
done to himself and will avenge them accordingly.</P>
|
|
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