20140430 Tuesday, April 30 2014
2 Samuel 10: The Ambassadors Incident

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

The English word "arrogance" originated from a Latin word, arrogantia, which meant to desire, as in to behave or speak with exorbitant claims of superiority. The original word, as does the Hebrew word that it's used to translate, simply meant to covet what is not right.

Despite being anointed by the LORD (see 1 Samuel 16: The Anointing Of David), winning the civil war against Saul (see 2 Samuel 3: The War Between The Houses of David and Saul), being made king of the united Kingdom of Israel (see 2 Samuel 5: How Long Was Jerusalem The Capital Of Israel?) and becoming Emperor of a number of the nations around Israel (see 2 Samuel 8: King David's Empire), David never became arrogant.

When a neighboring king died, David humbly sent ambassadors to the kingdom of Ammon (see the Fact Finder question below) to express his condolences to the new king. Unfortunately, the new king and his foolish advisors were arrogant. They "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."

"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. 10:2 Then 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.

10:3 And 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?

10:4 Wherefore 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." (2 Samuel 10:1-4 KJV)

When the news of the incident reached David, his first response was to take care of his diplomats who had been grossly mistreated.

"10:5 When 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." (2 Samuel 10:5 KJV)

David did not then immediately declare war on the offending nation. They did - by launching a massive invasion of Israel, including Syrian mercenaries.

"10:6 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.

10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 10:8 And 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." (2 Samuel 10:6-8 KJV)

David's army commander, Joab, led the defense of Israel with the proclamation "Be 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." Joab wasn't an arrogant fool either. "Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him."

King David then led a second army group into battle: "And 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." It was a total victory of Godly humility over Satanic arrogance.

"10:9 When 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: 10:10 And 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. 10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 10:12 Be 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.

10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him. 10:14 And 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.

10:15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. 10:16 And 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.

10:17 And 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. 10:18 And 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. 10:19 And 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." (2 Samuel 10:9-19 KJV)

Fact Finder: The Ammonites and Moabites originated from Abraham's nephew, Lot. How and when?
See Why Did Lot's Wife Look Back? and Genesis 19: Fire And Brimstone Upon Sodom And Gomorrah