DAVID DEFEATS THE AMMONITES 2 SAMUEL 10:1-19biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_samuel/2Samuel10.pdfDavid Defeats the Ammonites Text: 2 Samuel 10:1-19, 1. In the course of time,

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DAVID DEFEATS THE AMMONITES

2 SAMUEL 10:1-19

Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor


David Defeats the Ammonites

Text: 2 Samuel 10:1-19, 1. In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. 2. David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's men came to the land of the Ammonites, 3. the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn't David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?" 4. So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. 5. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." 6. When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob. 7. On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. 8. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.



9. Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 10. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. 11. Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. 12. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight." 13. Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 14. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 15. After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. 16. Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the River ; they went to Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them. 17. When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. 18. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. 19. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. (NIV)



Introduction: I. References to military encounter(s) between Israel and Ammon are found in 2 Samuel 8:3-12, 2 Samuel 19:1-19, 2 Samuel 11:1 and 2 Samuel 12:26-31.

A. Scriptures:

1. 2 Samuel 8:3-12, Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. (NIV)



2. 2 Samuel 10:1-19, In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's men came to the land of the Ammonites, the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn't David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?" So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob. On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. Be strong and let us fight



bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight." Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the River; they went to Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them. When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. (NIV)

3. 2 Samuel 11:1, In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (NIV)

4. 2 Samuel 12:26-31, Meanwhile Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal citadel. Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, "I have fought against Rabbah and taken its water supply. Now muster the rest of the troops and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will take the city, and it will be



named after me." So David mustered the entire army and went to Rabbah, and attacked and captured it. He took the crown from the head of their king—its weight was a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones—and it was placed on David's head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city and brought out the people who were there, consigning them to labor with saws and with iron picks and axes, and he made them work at brickmaking. He did this to all the Ammonite towns. Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem. (NIV)

B. These references may or may not refer to the same military event. (See Smith.) The Pulpit Commentary holds that the conflicts referenced in 2 Samuel 8:12 and 2 Samuel 10:1-19 are the same, 2 Samuel 19:1-19 giving more information. C. “The fiercest struggle which Israel faced under David’s reign” was this encounter with the Ammonites and their allies, Smith wrote.

II. 2 Samuel 10:1-19 and 1 Chronicles 19:1-19 are parallel references.

A. 1 Chronicles 19:1-19, In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's men came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Haven't his men come to you to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?" So Hanun seized David's men, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away.



When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah. They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle. On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country. Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight." Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem. After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the River, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them. When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. But



they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army. When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore. (NIV)

III. Topics treated in 2 Samuel 10, Anderson wrote, are:

A. The defeat of the Ammonite-Aramean coalition (vs. 6-14) and… B. Defeat of the reinforced Aramean alliance (vs. 15-19).

Commentary: 2 Samuel 10:1, In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king. (NIV) I. In the course of time, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him as king.

A. “Nahash, king of the Transjordan kingdom of Ammon, died and was replaced by his son Hanun,” Smith wrote.

1. 1 Chronicles 19:1, In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. (NIV) 2. Whether this Nahash was the same as the Nahash mentioned in 1 Samuel 11:1 is uncertain, The Pulpit Commentary states.



a. 1 Samuel 11:1, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you." (NIV) b. “Nahash” means “serpent” or “dragon” and may have been the name assumed by several Ammonite kings because this name represented majesty and power and was the symbol on their governmental seal, The Pulpit Commentary tells us.

B. “In the course of time” has no chronological significance, but is simply a transitional phrase. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

II. Anderson wrote, “The Ammonite king Nahash had been Saul’s adversary and a cruel enemy of Israel. David’s friendship with him may go back to the time when David was fleeing from Saul or when he was engaged in hostilities with Ishbosheth’s forces.” 2 Samuel 10:2, David thought, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. When David's men came to the land of the Ammonites, (NIV) I. David thought, “I will show kindness to Nanun son of Nahash…. .

A. The Pulpit Commentary states that this phrase “makes it probable that it was the same Nahash as Saul’s enemy.”

1. Having been defeated by Saul, it was only natural that Nahash would befriend David.

B. “David apparently sought to renew the treaty with Nanun which must have existed between him and Nahash,” Anderson stated.



II. just as his father showed kindness to me.”

A. Nahash had been a friend to David.

1. He had shown kindness to David; that is, was faithful to a covenant. (Smith)

a. 2 Samuel 9:1, 3, David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" The king asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God's kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet." (NIV)

B. Coffman and Clarke stated that it is not known what kindness or assistance that Nahash had bestowed upon David.

1. Some suppose that Nahash may have helped David in his flight from Saul, Nahash and Saul being bitter enemies. (See Coffman.)

a. 1 Samuel 11:1-11, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you." But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel." The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you." When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. Just



then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?" Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said. When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand. They told the messengers who had come, "Say to the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'By the time the sun is hot tomorrow, you will be delivered.' " When the messengers went and reported this to the men of Jabesh, they were elated. They said to the Ammonites, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you." The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together. (NIV) b. 1 Samuel 22:3, From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?" (NIV)

III. So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.



A. David was an honorable person in this matter, honestly seeking to comfort Hanun, express his sincere sympathy and perhaps to solidify continuing relations between Ammon and Israel. (See Smith.)

III. When David’s men came to the land of the Ammonites, …

A. The place to which they went was Rabbah, the Ammonite capital, located on the north bank of the Jabbok River about twenty-three (23) miles due east of Jericho, Coffman wrote.

2 Samuel 10:3, the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, "Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn't David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?" (NIV) I. the Ammonite nobles said to Hanun their lord, …

A. These nobles totally disregarded David’s relationship with Nahash.

II. “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? …

A. These “nobles” jumped to a reasonable but erroneous conclusion.

1. Their ill-will toward Israel may have in part been due to David’s military successes and the fear and jealousy this produced. 2. They feared the Israelite ambassadors had come to spy out the Ammonite capital with a plan for David to then attack the city.



III. Hasn’t David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?”

A. This city, Smith stated, refers to Rabbah, “the strongly fortified capital of Ammon,” now Amman, located about twenty (20) miles east of the Jordan river. B. Hanun’s advisors gave their king terrible advice!

1. Hanun’s intelligence gathering was terrible. 2. Hanun’s advisors may have had strong suspicions on which to base their opinions, but no hard facts to support these opinions. 3. Thousands died because of this really lousy advice. 4. This is certainly not the last time this kind of thing has happened! 5. However, Coffman wrote, “The mistrust of Hanun’s princes of David’s intentions is not hard to understand.”

a. There was long standing national hatred. b. Deuteronomy 23:3-6, No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the



LORD your God loves you. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live. (NIV)

2 Samuel 10:4, So Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their garments in the middle at the buttocks, and sent them away. (NIV) I. So Hanun seized David’s men, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments in the middle of the buttocks, and sent them away.

A. This is a truly awful way to treat people of good will! B. These things were blatant acts and intended to grossly insult the diplomats and their king, David.

1. One entire side of the face, one-half of each man’s beard, was shaved.

a. Male adult Israelites wore full beards as a sign of their manhood, Smith wrote, and were held in high respect in the East, Clarke added. b. Beards were shaved only as tokens of deepest mourning.

i. Isaiah 15:2, Dibon goes up to its temple, to its high places to weep; Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Every head is shaved and every beard cut off. (NIV)

ii. Jeremiah 41:5, eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the LORD. (NIV)



c. Smith said only children, women and eunuchs were beardless… (as well as slaves, The Pulpit Com-mentary adds.). d. The beard was a prized symbol of the fact that its wearer was a free man. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

2. Evidently the clothing of the diplomats was cut off at the waist exposing their nakedness, a procedure designed to embarrass and disgrace… and was a declaration of war against Israel.

a. War captives were sometimes subjected to this insult.

i. Isaiah 20:4, so the king of Assyria will lead away stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and old, with buttocks bared—to Egypt's shame. (NIV)

3. Smith wrote that the robes may have been cut vertically like their beards to make them look ridiculous.

a. This would by way of nakedness expose them to disgrace as well.

4. In this condition they were returned humiliated to David.

2 Samuel 10:5, When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, "Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back." (NIV) I. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated.



A. To avoid exposing these diplomats to further humiliation in Jerusalem, David ordered them to remain in Jericho until their beards had grown back. (See Smith) B. Jericho, the “city of palm trees,” had been destroyed by Joshua and had not yet been rebuilt; that is, refortified. (See Smith)

1. Jericho was a private place where these ambassadors could reside without undue embarrassment. (See Clarke) 2. Judges 1:16, The descendants of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms with the men of Judah to live among the people of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad. (NIV)

3. Judges 3:13, Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. (NIV) 4. Ammon was located east of the Jordan River and the ambassadors, on their return to Jerusalem, would naturally go through Jericho.

II. The king said, “Stay here at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

A. Jericho, situated 845 feet below sea level (Anderson), was located on the road the ambassadors would have taken and was the first place of significance to which they would have come once they had crossed the Jordan River. B. At this location they were safe from the Ammonites and could stay there for as long as necessary for their beards to grow back.



2 Samuel 10:6, When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, as well as the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and also twelve thousand men from Tob. (NIV) I. When the Ammonites realized that they have become a stench in David’s nostrils, …

A. This makes this scribe think the Ammonites may have been a little intellectually “slow” because of their failure to realize at the time of their mistreatment of the ambassadors how serious their actions were and that David would certainly retaliate!

1. A complete break of relations now existed between Ammon and Israel. (See Anderson) 2. The Ammonites’ behavior was most offensive to David, had antagonized David against them, made themselves repulsive, had become odious to David. (See Smith) 3. The Ammonites had made themselves abominable to David. (Clarke)

a. Genesis 34:30, Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed." (NIV)

b. 1 Samuel 13:4, So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. (NIV)



c. 1 Samuel 27:12, Achish trusted David and said to himself, "He has become so odious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant forever." (NIV)

d. 2 Samuel 16:21, Ahithophel answered, "Lie with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench in your father's nostrils, and the hands of everyone with you will be strengthened." (NIV)

4. The Ammonites now realized their actions would lead to war with Israel. (Smith)

II. They hired twenty thousand (20,000) Aramean foot soldiers from Beth Rehob and Zobah, …

A. Beth Rehob was evidently located just north of Dan in Lebanon’s Bega Valley, but some identify Beth Rehob with Rehoboth by the river in Mesopotamia. (See Smith.) B. Beth Rehob, according to Youngblood, was a place in the Jordan River Valley north of the sea of Galilee near Dan. C. “Zobah was an Aramean kingdom situated in Syria, south of Hamath, northeast of Damascus, and east of Byblos in the Bekaa Valley between the Lebanon and anti-Lebanon Mountains. Generally speaking, Zobah was the land between the Orontes and the Euphrates River.” (Youngblood)

1. 2 Samuel 8:3, Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. (NIV)



D. This twenty thousand (20,000) soldiers cost Hanun a thousand (1,000) talents of silver, but other military help may have been included.

1. 1 Chronicles 19:6-7, When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench in David's nostrils, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah. They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle. (NIV) 2. Coffman wrote that a thousand (1,000) talents of silver would equal many millions of dollars.

III. as well as the king of Maacah with a thousand (1,000) men, and also twelve thousand (12,000) men from Tob.

A. Maacah was a small Aramean kingdom southwest of Mt. Hermon. (See Smith and Coffman.)

1. Deuteronomy 3:14, Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites; it was named after him, so that to this day Bashan is called Havvoth Jair. (NIV)

B. Tob was the district northeast of Gilead between Aram (Syria) and Ammon, located east of the Jordan River some ten (10) miles or more east of Ramoth-gilead. (See Coffman and Smith.)

1. To this land Jephthah had fled. (The Pulpit Commentary)



a. Judges 11:3-5 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him. Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. (NIV)

C. A total of thirty-three thousand (33,000) mercenaries were hired by Ammon to do battle with Israel and to supplement the Ammonite forces. (See Smith.)

2 Samuel 10:7, On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. (NIV) I. On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men.

A. Smith indicated the Ammonite-Aramean alliance forced David to act sooner than otherwise he would have. B. David’s deploying his best general with “the entire army of fighting men” lets us see how serious this Ammonite-Aramean threat really was.

1. The entire army included all the military host and David’s mighty men. (See Coffman.) 2. This was a formidable and skilled fighting force! (See Coffman.)

2 Samuel 10:8, The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. (NIV)



I. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city gate, …

A. This city was Medeba located twenty (20) miles southwest of Rabbah. (Smith)

1. Coffman placed Medeba four (4) miles in a straight line southwest of Heshbon. 2. 1 Chronicles 19:7, They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle. (NIV) 3. Joshua 13:9, It extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and included the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon, (NIV) 4. The Pulpit Commentary states that Medeba was a small town situated upon a hill in the Mishor, or treeless praire-land, called “the plain” in Joshua 13:16.

a. Joshua 13:16, The territory from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the middle of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba. (NIV)

II. while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country, in the field.

A. The Ammonites were massed in front of the city gate while the Arameans were in the open country.



B. Smith wrote, “Joab apparently marched into a trap.” C. Smith concluded that the Ammonite-Aramean battle plan called for Israel to attack Ammon and then for the Arameans to attack from the rear with Israel having to fight strong forces attacking from two (2) directions.

1. As soon as Joab realized the situation, he skillfully devised and implemented a successful strategy.

2 Samuel 10:9, Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. (NIV) I. Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; …

A. The Pulpit Commentary expressed the opinion that it was the purpose of the Arameans (Syrians) and Ammonites to join forces and that Joab arrived at an opportune time before they could consolidate their armies. B. However, Anderson expressed the opinion that Joab committed a tactical error by allowing his army to be caught between enemy forces, or in front and to their rear. C. However, the situation developed, Joab showed great tactical skill in dealing with this military emergency. (See Anderson.)

II. so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans.

A. Joab personally took command of the forces deployed against the Arameans.



B. This evidently means that Joab saw the Arameans as the greater threat. (See Coffman.) C. Included in Joab’s troops were Israel’s fiercest fighting men! D. These Arameans were paid or bribed soldiers and would not be expected to fight with the dedication of Israel’s finest who were giving their all to save their homeland from foreign domination.

2 Samuel 10:10, He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites. (NIV) I. He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother and deployed them against the Ammonites.

A. The rest of the troops under the command of Joab’s brother Abishai were deployed against the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 10:11, Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you. (NIV) I. Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; …

A. Each commander would provide help to the other if help were needed.

II. but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to rescue you.

A. Joab had a contingency plan in case either his troops or Abishai’s troops were threatened with defeat.



B. In all areas of our lives, it is wise to have contingency plans.

2 Samuel 10:12, Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight." (NIV) I. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God.

A. Joab encouraged the troops to be strong and fight bravely for Israel and the cities God had given them. (Smith)

1. Judges 7:18, When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' " (NIV) 2. The people and the cities of Reuben and Gad were in present danger from the Ammonite-Aramean invasion. (See Smith.)

B. Clarke observed that this was indeed “a very fine military address, and is equal to anything in ancient or modern times” calling on his troops to fight for “every good, sacred and civil” thing, for God, family and country!

II. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

A. Joab assured the people that the outcome of the battle was in the hands of the Lord. B. “These words express both Joab’s trust in the Lord and his resignation to God’s will,” Smith wrote. C. Joab and Abishai were determined to do their best and were resolved to accept the outcome whatever the will of the Lord was.



1. Matthew 6:10, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (KJV)

2 Samuel 10:13, Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. (NIV) I. Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him.

A. Joab attacked and routed the Arameans which then allowed him to go to the aid of Abishai.

2 Samuel 10:14, When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. (NIV) I. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city.

A. The Ammonites found refuge within the city and Joab, not being prepared for a long siege, returned to Jerusalem. (See Smith.)

1. It was “late in the year when Joab won this victory, and it was part of the weakness of ancient warfare that a long campaign was beyond the power of either side,” The Pulpit Commentary states.

a. 2 Samuel 11:1, In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (NIV)



B. This battle had been won, but the outcome of the war had yet to be determined.

II. So Joab returned from fighting the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

A. Joab had defeated the Ammonites and Arameans, but he did not fully neutralize their threat to Israel.

1. These enemies would soon be back!

2 Samuel 10:15, After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped. (NIV) I. After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they regrouped.

A. This conflict may be the one addressed in 2 Samuel 8:3-6, Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. (NIV)

2 Samuel 10:16, Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the River ; they went to Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer's army leading them. (NIV)



I. Hadadezer had Arameans brought from beyond the River (Euphrates); …

A. Hadadezer summoned additional troops and made ready to renew the Aramean-Israelite war. (See Smith) B. Hadadezer, the Aramean king, now took a major, personal role in preparing and executing the next phase of this war in view of the fact that the first battle had been decisively lost.

II. they went to Helam, with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

A. Helam’s exact location is unknown, but it appears to have been a region or city on the northeast border of Israel, Smith wrote, while Baldwin located Helam, now Alma, some thirty-five (35) miles east of the Sea of Galilee, situated in northern Transjordan. (Anderson) B. Hadadezer’s best general was placed in charge of the troops which “came in full force” against Israel. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

2 Samuel 10:17, When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him. (NIV) I. When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan and went to Helam.

A. David recognized this massing of Aramean troops as a grave threat to Israel (See Smith.) and, therefore, took command of the operation. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)



B. David as commander with full military force crossed the Jordan and advanced to Helam to do battle with the Arameans. (See Smith.) C. Smith wrote, “David surprised the enemy with the rapid mobilization and deployment of his troops.”

II. The Arameans formed their battle lines to meet David and fought against him.

A. David was a truly great warrior whose presence would inspire the troops. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

2 Samuel 10:18, But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. (NIV) I. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred (700) of their charioteers and forty thousand (40,000) of their foot soldiers.

A. The Arameans again were defeated and suffered “mammoth losses.” (Smith) B. Compare the casualties listed in 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19.

1. 2 Samuel 8:4, David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. (NIV)



2. 2 Samuel 10:18, But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there. (NIV) 3. 1 Chronicles 19:18, But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army. (NIV) 4. Scribal errors and/or terminology differences may account for the numerical variances, Smith noted. 5. Coffman concluded the differences are due to “textual corruption.” Clarke agreed.

II. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, and he died there.

A. The Aramean general was one of those killed.

2 Samuel 10:19, When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. (NIV) I. When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, …

A. The kings of Rehob, Tob and Maacah who had been vassals of Hadadezer now became subservient to David.



II. they made peace with the Israelites and became subject to them.

A. The vassal kings who had served the Arameans, (Syrians) following David’s defeat of Hadadezer, became vassals of Israel. B. Smith noted that Hadadezer, though greatly weakened, apparently still maintained his independence in Zobah. C. Following this victory, “David at last established the Euphrates River as the eastern boundary of God’s Israel,” Coffman wrote.

III. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

A. With the defeat of the Arameans, Israel could now concentrate on the Ammonites.

1. 2 Samuel 11:1, In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. (NIV)

B. The effects of this great victory were significant and long lasting! (See Anderson.)

Conclusion: I. The battles with Ammon-Aramea were fierce struggles in which Israel met with near disaster, Smith wrote.

A. Anderson wrote that this “chapter offers a tragic picture of the way in which suspicion and misunderstanding may lead to war and humiliation.”



B. What personal and national tragedies have been suffered because of suspicion and misunderstanding!

II. Clarke wrote, “We have now done with the first part of this book, in which we find David great, glorious, and pious: we come to the second part, in which we shall have the pain to observe him fallen from God, and his horn defiled in the dust by crimes of the most flagitious nature. Let him that most assuredly standeth take heed lest he fall.”



Questions

on

2 Samuel 10:1-19

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. David fought many battles with many neighboring nations. What distinguished the battles with the Ammonites and Arameans from all the others? ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. According to Anderson, what two (2) major topics are addressed in 2 Samuel 10? ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Who were the Ammonites? Where did thy live? ________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



4. The king of the Ammonites died? What was his name? ___________ ___________________ His son, ______________________________, succeeded him as king. 5. “________________________” means “_____________________” or “___________________” and may have been the name assumed by several ____________________________ because this name represented ________________________ and ____________________ was the ____________________ on their ________________________ ____________________. 6. Why were the late king of Ammon and David on favorable terms? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. How did David try to show kindness to Nanun son of Nahash? _____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. Why did David extend this courtesy to Nanun? _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. How were David’s ambassadors received by Nanun? Why did the Ammonites respond in this way? _______________________________



__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What was the Ammonite capital? Where was this city located? ____ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. What did the Ammonite nobles advise Hanun? Why did they proffer this advice? ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. What do you think of this advice? Explain your answer. _________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. How did the Ammonites treat David’s ambassadors? Why were these actions so grievous? _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



14. David attempted to save his returning ambassadors further humiliation by telling them, “_____________________________ here at _________________________ till your ___________________ have __________________, and then ________________ ______________.” 15. Why were they directed to stay in Jericho rather than some other place? ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. What does “the Ammonites” had “become a stench in David’s nostrils” mean? _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. What did the Ammonites do to prepare for their encounter with the Israelites. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. Who were the Arameans? __________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. Locate: (a) Beth Rehob____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (b) Zobah __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (c) Maacah ________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (d) Tob ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. David deployed his ______________________ of ______________ _____________________under the command of __________________ to do battle with the __________________ and ___________________.



21. Give information regarding the site of this battle and how the forces were geographically deployed. _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22. What problems did this present for Joab and what tactical strategy was devised to cope with this situation? __________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 23. Going into the battle, what advantages did the Ammonite-Aramean alliance have? What advantages did the Israelites have? _____________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 24. Joab rallied the troops by urging them, “_______________________ ___________________ and ______________ _____________________ ______________________ ___________________________ for our __________________________ and the ____________________ of our _____________________. The _______________________ will do what is ___________________ in his __________________.” 25. Israel won this battle. To what do you attribute their victory? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 26. When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they fled before Abishai and went inside the city. Why didn’t Joab intensify the attack and “finish the job”? ____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 27. Following the victorious battle with the Ammonite-Aramean alliance, Joab returned to Jerusalem. During this lull in hostilities, what did the Ammonites and Arameans do? ___________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 28. Who was Hadadezer? _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 29. What did Hadadezer do? Why did he take this action? (See verse 16) _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



30. Locate Helam. Who was Shobach? __________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31. What was David’s response to this renewed Aramean threat? ______ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 32. What was the military outcome of this battle? What happened to Shobach? __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 33. Compare 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19 regarding numbers of casualties. How can any differences be explained? _________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 34. What were the political outcomes of Israel’s victory over the Arameans? (See verse 19) ____________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 35. In regard to David’s life, tell how what is said in 2 Samuel 1-10 contrasts with what is said in 2 Samuel 11-21. _____________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Documents

DAVID DEFEATS THE AMMONITES 2 SAMUEL 10:1-19biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/2_samuel/2Samuel10.pdfDavid Defeats the Ammonites Text: 2 Samuel 10:1-19, 1. In the course of time,