Matthew Poole's Commentary Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. David’s messengers to Hanun are villanously entreated, 1 Chronicles 19:1-5. The Ammonites and Syrians are overcome by Joab and Abishai, 1 Chronicles 19:6-15; by David himself, 1 Chronicles 19:16-19. Of all the contents of this chapter, see the notes on 2 Samuel 10, where we have the same things, and almost the very same words. And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him. No text from Poole on this verse. But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? No text from Poole on this verse. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away. No text from Poole on this verse. Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. No text from Poole on this verse. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. No text from Poole on this verse. So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle. Thirty and two thousand chariots, i. e. thirty-two thousand men fighting from or with chariots, as that word is elsewhere used; of which see my notes on 1 Samuel 13:5. And this interpretation seems the more probable by comparing this place with 2 Samuel 10:6, where this army is said to consist of twenty thousand footmen, and twelve thousand men of Ish-tob; which make up these thirty-two thousand men, who fought partly from chariots, and partly on foot with chariots, or attending upon the chariots, as the ancient manner of fighting was. And here, 1 Chronicles 19:6, this army is made up of chariots and horsemen; where, except the chariots be understood of footmen, there were no footmen in the army, which is unusual and incredible. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. No text from Poole on this verse. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. No text from Poole on this verse. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. No text from Poole on this verse. And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. No text from Poole on this verse. 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 help thee. No text from Poole on this verse. Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight. No text from Poole on this verse. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. No text from Poole on this verse. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. No text from Poole on this verse. And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. No text from Poole on this verse. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. No text from Poole on this verse. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. No text from Poole on this verse. And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more. How this agrees with 2 Samuel 10:18, see in the notes on that place. |
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