Shameful Deed - Another War II Samuel 10

II Samuel 10:4 "Wherefore Hanuun 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."

David is at rest from war. The king of Ammon has died. David seeks to show kindness to his son Hanun as the king of Ammon had shown to David.

Hanun had some bad advisers. They convenience Hanun that David was sending spies in preparation for an attack. So the shameful act in our text verse was done. David met the men and told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew back.

v6 "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."

Joab is sent out at first with his army to fight. He is confronted by the enemy on two fronts. I'm reminded of one of the Marines heroes, Chesty Puller, who was once surrounded by the enemy. He is quoted as saying "We got them right where I want them now, we can't miss." Well Joab came up with a great battle plan.

v9 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: v10 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. v11 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."

The enemy was defeated in that battle but they brought up more Syrians from across Jordan with Shobach as captain. David then joined the war and defeated that army killing Shobach.

v19 "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."

That pretty much settled things for the time being. Time has passed since David became king. We can see from reading that David's sons were already rulers in Israel.

Psalm 34:19 "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Keywords: Bible study, Old Testament, David, Samuel, Syria, Ammon, Milton Southerland.