Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Samuel · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
NAbash the King of the Ammonites being dead David sendeth an Ambassage V. 1, 2.to his sonne Hanun to comfort him for the kindnesse, which hee had formely received from his father, and as Josephus hath it, to signifie, that hee would continue in amity with him, and helpe him, if any enemy now at the beginning of his raigne should molest him. What kindnesse the old King had shewed to David, is not said. The Rabbines say, that when he left his father and mother and some other friends with the King of Moab, that King slew his father and mother, and then the King of Ammon did courteously receive the rest, that fled unto him. Jerom, that David himselfe fled unto him, before hee Hieronym. in lib. Reg.came to the cave of Odullam, and was kindely entertained. Comestor, that David went to him, when hee fled from Achish, and was kindely entertained. And David living now in peace set his minde upon requiting old kindnesses, which he had received at the hands of any, and therefore having done somewhat for Mephibosheth within the land, hee now sendeth out to requite another kindnesse. Whereas it is forbidden, to seeke the peace of the Ammonites for Deut. 23. 6.ever, against which David might seeme now to transgresse, the Rabbines say, that hee did, and was therefore punished with disgrace done to his Ambassadours; but Tostatus, Martyr and others, that hee did herein nothing unlawfull. Tostaus. Peter Martyr.Hee was prevented with kindnesse before by the King of Ammon, it was therefore a point of gratitude in him, to seeke to requite it, hee onelyonly shewed himselfe willing to continue in amity with this King, but not to make any league with him, which onelyonly was unlawfull. Whereas ch: 8. 12. mention is made of spoiles taken from the children of Ammon, implying warres made before this against Ammon, and if so, how doth this ambassage rightly follow? Answ: That was spoken by anticipation, for the warre with Ammon was not made till afterwards upon the occasion here declared. For the kindnesse shewed by Nahash unto David, it is most probable that hee did it, because Saul, who persecuted David, was his deadly enemy, and his hatred was great against him ever since the overthrow, which hee had given him at Jabesh Gilead, therefore Saul being a common enemy to them both hee thought it fit to joyne in friendship with David against him.
This kindnesse of David being misconstrued by Hanuns servants, who suspected V. 3.that hee sent to spy out the Citie, and to overthrow it, hee being very credulous, as if it had been so indeed, tooke Davids servants, and shaved off halfe their beards, and cut off their garments by the buttocks, and sent them away greatly ashamed. 1 Chron. 19. 4. it is said, bee shaved them, which may be understood, as a further indignity here omitted. Of the shaving halfe their beards the ground might bee, that amongst the Egyptians this was wont to bee done in derision, as may bee seene in Euterpe Herodoti, and amongst the Greeks in Agesilao Plutarchi. A long beard, as also long garments, were counted an honour, therefore to shave off any part of the beard was counted a great disgrace, and likewise to curtaile their garments, especially so as that their shamefull parts might appeare, and their circumcision to bee derided. That long garments were counted an honour, appeareth, because in all Nations though farre disjoyned, learned men, and presidents, Senatours and Counsellers have used Gownes. More particularly for shaving it was a custome amongst the Ammonites in mourning for the dead to shave themselves, as wee may gather from that which is expressed by the Prophet Esay touching their brethren the Moabites, who speaking of their mourning, when many should bee slaine, saith; Moab shall houle, upon all heads shall bee baldnesse, and all Esa. 15. 2.beards shall bee shaven, and likewise, Jer. 48. 37. and herein the Israelites were forbidden to doe like the heathen, when they mourned for the dead. Now because these servants of David pretended sorrow for the death of Nahash, Hanun Deut. 14. 1.in scorne shaved them, and cut off halfe their beards, from which hee knew they much abhorred by reason of their Law. Peter Martyr thinketh, that Peter Martyr.they cut their garments, because the Leprous amongst the Israelites rent their garments, and inquiring into the reason why Hanun suspected David, hee saith, 1. that the Ammonites being a wicked people were alwayes of most infest mindes against Israel, as wee may see in the speech of Nahash to the men of Jabesh Gilead. 2. Hee knew that the Israelites were forbidden by their Law to 1 Sam. 11.seeke the peace of the Ammonites for ever. 3. They being wicked had guilty consciences, which alwayes suspect the worst, as is intimated Eccles. 7.
David hearing of it sent to meet them, and to bid them stay at Jericho, till their beards were growne. The Israelites, saith Pellican, did never shave their V. 5.beards, it being a thing to them forbidden by Gods Law, and therefore one part being cut off, they abhorred from cutting off the other, and to come Levit 19. 27. Pellican.home with halfe a beard they were ashamed, wherefore they are willed to come no further into their owne countrey then Jericho, where happily they then were, it being about the confines of their Land, till the part cut off were growne againe: Peter Martyr saith, it is noted by Otho to bee a signe of an effeminate man to shave his beard, and yet Dion writeth, that Adrian was the Peter Martyr. Dion in Trajanivita Aug. lib. 2. contra Pel.first of the Roman Emperours, that nourished his beard. But August. saith, that the beard is a signe of strength and fortitude: Yet Concil. 4. Carthag. decreed, that Clerkes should not nourish their haire or beard. Newes of this indignitie offered to his servants it is likely came to Davids eares by messengers whom they sent before unto him, being ashamed to come themselves. Jericho, saith Joseph. was 150. forlongs from Jerusalem, and 60. from Jordan in the way to the Ammonites countrey, and at that time had few inhabitants Jusephas.in it, so that they might well bee there without being seene of many.
And when the children of Ammon saw that they stanke before David, they sent and V. 6.hired of Syrians of Beth-Rehob, and of Zoba, 20000. m…n, and of King Maacab, 1000, &c. 1 Chron. 19. 6. when they saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Children of Ammon sent 1000. talents of silver to hire Chariots 1 Chron. 19. 6.and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, Syria, Maachah and Zobah. So they hired 32000. Chariots, and the King of Maacah, who came and pitched before Medeba, &c. the vulgar Latine, when they saw, that they had injured David; Peter Martyr, that they had done a foule thing to David, but the best expression is that, 1 Chron. 19. 6. By the indignitie offered to Davids Embassadours they gathered, that hee was highly offended with them, and therefore expecting now some revenge they prepared to defend themselves, happily first hearing, as Josephus hath it, that David prepared to come against them. But Tostatus thinketh that David Tostatus.meant to have passed it over, till that hee heard of their preparations of this warre. The words, they saw that they bad made themselves odious to David, doe rather imply the threatnings of David, as Josephus saith, to bee revenged, comming first unto their eares. For the divers peoples hired by the Ammonites, for the first of Beth Rehob, Chron. hath Mesopotamia, happily that Rebob was the chiefe City of Mesopotamia, some thinke it the name of the father of Hadadezer the King of that countrey, because hee is called the sonne of Rehob, but hee is said to bee the King of Zoba, which is here distinguished from Rehob, 2 Sam. 8. 3.as another Province. These were then two parts of Syria in Mesopotamia. Touching Maacah, hee was also another King in Syria, and happily his province was called after his owne name. For Istob the last in Sam. Chron. hath Vatablus, Iudg. 11. 3.Syria, but that part of Syria under King Tob is meant, of which Tob see in the history of Jephthah, so Vatablus. The name of Istob, say the Hebrewes, commeth of Ish a man, and Tob, the man or Prince of Tob. The Syrians had been before brought under by David, wherefore Hanun thought surely, that they would most readily take this opportunitie to bee revenged upon him, and this moved him to hire them. As there bee foure names here, so the Greekes, saith Peter Martyr.Martyr, distinguish Syria into foure parts, which they call, Comagena, Damascena, Caelosyria and Phaenicia. For the numbers hired Sam. saith 20000. footmen and 12000. men, which together make up 32000. but Chron. 32000. Chariots. To reconcile this, Lyra saith, 32000. men fighting in Chariots are meant Vatablus likewise, the continent being put for the content, when 32000. Lyra. Vatablus. Tostatus. Junitus.Chariots are spoken of; Tostatus 32000. men comming with Chariots, the number of which is not expressed. Junius to avoyd difference hath it 32000. footmen, Chariots, and the King of Maachah. But it is plainly said 32000. Chariots, and 1000. talents were sent to hire Chariots and horsemen, which is such an huge masse of money, that therewith might well bee hired so many Chariots. For a common Talent was 3000. common Shekels, every Shekel 15. d. so that one Talent was 187. l. 10. s. and 1000. Talents 187500. l. that is 6. l. for the hire of each Chariot or thereabouts. For the solution brought by Lyra, and Vatablus, it agreeth not, because Sam. saith 20000. footmen which were certainly no Chariot men. I thinke therefore, that Chron. omitting what was related in Sam. sheweth what great forces more were hired, which Sam. spake not of, so that besides the footmen 20000. and 1000. and 12000. so many Chariots were hired also and men to manage them called horsemen. And this wonderfull great preparation tendeth to the magnifying of the victory the more, which God gave unto David, and to shew how deare Hanun paid for the ignominy done to Davids men, that all may take heed Note. how they render evill for good, and upon meere suspition deale as if the thing were certaine, 1 Chron. 19. 7. all these forces are said to have pitched before Medeba, that is, the chiefe Citie of the Ammonites, whither the comming of Davids Army was expected.
David hearing of these preparations was nothing dismayed, but sent Joab V. 7.with his men against them, being, as may be conjectured, no great Army, because no gathering together of men is spoken of; as afterwards. He sent then such, as he had in a readinesse, and when they came to the enemies Country, the Ammonites set themselves in battaile array before the gates of their City, & the Syrians were in the field, so that the Ammonites were before them and they behinde with their multitudes ready to inclose this small Army, as Pellican thinketh, being laid in ambush. The Ammonites came not farre from the City Pellican.to fight, that if neede were, they might soone retire. Joab perceiving how the enemies were divided into two parts, divideth his Army also into two, leading one part of the most valiant against the Syrians, in whom, as being most mighty, and so wonderfully prepared with men and chariots, the Ammonites placed their greatest confidence, and committing the other to his brother Abishai, to fight with the Ammonites.
This being done, and an exhortation made to bee valiant, hee presently put V. 13. V. 14.the Syrians to flight, and the Ammonites seeing that, fled before Abishai. How many were slaine is not said, neither is it likely that there were very many: for the enemies would not stay to fight, and flee they could in their chariots faster then the Israelites could pursue them on foot. Moreover Ioabs Army being but small, hee was content with the victory, and returned. Medeba to which he went to this battail, saith one, was 60 miles from Ierusalem.H. Bunting Patriar. travailes. V. 15, 16.
The Syrians being thus put to flight, gathered themselves together againe, and more Syrians brought from beyond the River, that is, Euphrates, by Hadarezer were joyned unto them, and so a greater Army being made, they came to Helam, which is thought to bee a City in the Syrians Countrey, one saith, that it was but 20 miles from Ierusalem, so farre were the Syrians come to incounter H. Bunting Patriarchs travails. V. 18.with David. Then hee gathered together greater forces also, even all the valiant men of Israel, and came in person to Elam to fight against them, and slew the men of 700 chariots, and 4000 horsemen, &c. 1 Chron. 19. 18. he slew 7000 men in chariots; Hebr. it is here, 700 chariots, the continent being put for the content, 1 Chron. 19. 18the chariots for the men in them, and if 10 men be allowed to each chariot, their number was 7000, as Chron. hath it, or because that number may seeme too great for 700 chariots, it may bee said, that all the men that fought in 700 chariots were slaine, and so many more in other chariots, wherein some escaped, as made up 7000. Moreover 1 Chron. 19. 18. hath it 40000 footmen, but here it is 40000 horsemen: But as Lyra and Tostatus say, herein is no contradiction, Lyra. Tostatus.onelyonly that which was wanting touching the number of footmen in Sam. where none are spoken of, is supplyed in Chron. and because the horsemen were numbred in Sam. they are omitted in Chron.
The Syrian petty Kings that fought under Hadarezers Captaine, as being Tributaries V. 19.happily to him, seeing the victory to fall to David, who had also slaine Shobach their Captaine with his owne hands, saith Iosephus, they fled, saith the Vulg. Latine, 58000. and came and made peace: but Hebr. no fleeing or number that fled, is spoken of. Being so often overcome, they now yeeld to bee Tributaries to David, and covenant not to help the Ammonites any more, wherby it may bee gathered that they came to battaile this second time, being againe sollicited by them.