2 Samuel 10

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 10

1¶ And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

2Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

3And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

4Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.

5When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

6¶ And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

7And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

8And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field.

9When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice [men] of Israel, and put [them] in array against the Syrians:

10And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put [them] in array against the children of Ammon.

11And 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 come and help thee.

12Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

13And Joab drew nigh, and the people that [were] with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

14And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

15¶ And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.

16And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that [were] beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer [went] before them.

17And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

18And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew [the men of] seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

19And when all the kings [that were] servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After the death of the Ammonite king, David sent messengers to comfort his son Hanun, but Hanun, advised by his princes, publicly shamed them. This insult provoked war, leading David to send Joab and his army against the Ammonites and their hired Syrian allies. Israel achieved a decisive victory, first against the combined forces, and then again when David personally led Israel to defeat a regrouped Syrian army, causing them to submit.

Medium Summary

After the death of the Ammonite king, David sought to show kindness to his son Hanun by sending messengers to comfort him. However, Hanun's princes convinced him that David's envoys were spies, leading Hanun to severely insult them by shaving half their beards and cutting their garments. Realizing their offense, the Ammonites hired numerous Syrian mercenaries, prompting David to dispatch Joab and his elite forces. Joab strategically divided his army to confront both the Ammonites and the Syrians simultaneously, encouraging his men with a call to courage and trust in the Lord. The initial battle saw the Syrians flee before Joab, followed by the Ammonites retreating into their city. Subsequently, the Syrians regrouped with reinforcements under Hadarezer, leading David himself to gather all Israel and engage them in a second major battle. David's forces achieved a comprehensive victory, slaying many Syrian soldiers and their captain, Shobach, which compelled the Syrian kings to make peace with Israel and cease aiding the Ammonites.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the death of the King of Ammon and the ascension of his son, Hanun, to the throne. David, recalling the kindness shown to him by Hanun's father, Nahash, dispatched servants to offer comfort to the new king. However, the princes of Ammon instilled suspicion in Hanun, convincing him that David's messengers were not comforters but spies sent to reconnoiter and overthrow their city. Acting on this counsel, Hanun subjected David's envoys to extreme humiliation, shaving off half their beards and cutting their garments to their buttocks before sending them away. Upon hearing of this disgrace, David instructed his shamed servants to remain in Jericho until their beards grew back. Recognizing that they had deeply offended David, the Ammonites prepared for war by hiring a substantial force of Syrian mercenaries from Bethrehob, Zoba, Maacah, and Ishtob, totaling thirty-three thousand footmen. In response, David sent Joab with all his mighty men to confront the enemy. Joab faced a challenging battle formation, with the Ammonites arrayed at the city gate and the Syrians in the open field, effectively surrounding his forces. Strategically, Joab divided his army, leading the choicest men against the Syrians while his brother Abishai commanded the rest against the Ammonites. Joab exhorted his troops to be courageous and fight valiantly for their people and the cities of their God, trusting in the Lord's will. In the ensuing engagement, Joab's contingent caused the Syrians to flee, which in turn prompted the Ammonites to retreat into their city. Joab then returned to Jerusalem. Undeterred, the Syrians, under Hadarezer, gathered a new, larger force from beyond the river, led by their captain Shobach, and advanced to Helam. Upon receiving this intelligence, David personally gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and engaged the Syrians at Helam. The Syrians were again routed, suffering immense losses, including seven hundred chariots, forty thousand horsemen, and the death of their captain, Shobach. Witnessing Israel's overwhelming victory, the kings who served Hadarezer made peace with Israel and became their servants, thereby ending their support for the Ammonites.

Core Concepts

  • Diplomatic InsultHanun's deliberate shaming of David's ambassadors, by shaving their beards and cutting their garments, served as a profound act of disrespect and a direct provocation for war, violating established customs of hospitality and diplomacy.
  • Strategic Alliance and MercenariesThe Ammonites, fearing David's retaliation, sought to bolster their forces by hiring various Syrian contingents, demonstrating the common practice of forming alliances and employing mercenaries in ancient warfare.
  • Military Strategy and DivisionJoab's tactical genius is highlighted by his decision to divide his forces to confront two distinct enemy fronts simultaneously, ensuring mutual support between his and Abishai's contingents.
  • Leadership and EncouragementJoab's exhortation to his soldiers, urging them to be courageous and fight for their people and cities, exemplifies the role of a leader in inspiring troops before battle and trusting in divine providence.
  • David's Personal CommandAfter the initial victory, David personally led the entire Israelite army against the regrouped Syrian forces, showcasing his direct involvement in crucial military campaigns and his leadership as king.
  • Consequences of DefeatThe decisive defeat of the Syrians by Israel led not only to significant casualties but also to the submission of Hadarezer's vassal kings, illustrating the far-reaching political ramifications of military victory and the establishment of Israel's regional dominance.