Old Grudges Cause New Fights

The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot, and for a over six hundred years they had watched God bless Israel with jealousy and increasing concern despite Israle going out of their way to avoid conflict because of there relationship.  We have no record of what had happened between David and the Ammonites, but David had a sense of debt toward the Ammonite king, according to II Samuel 10:1-2a.  “And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.  Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. …”

Although David was trying to show his appreciation, the centuries of jealousy were not easily forgotten, and the Ammonite leaders didn’t trust David’s motives.  To express their hatred, they publically humiliated David’s emmisaries, in II Samuel 10:2b-4.  “And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.  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?  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.”

The Ammonites expected David to blow up and attack them immediately.  Instead David acted as if it was no big deal, just advising the emmisaries to avoid public appearances until their hari and beards grew out again, in II Samuel 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.”  Knowing how insulting their actions were, the Ammonites were sure David would retaliate, and when he didn’t seem to take them seriously, they began gathering allies to help them out, in II Samuel 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.”

David had already defeated several of the cf the Syrian bands around him, and other bands quickly joined the Ammonites in and effort to restore their prestige and pride, providing and additional thirty three thousand men.  The build up of forces on the eastern border forced David to respond, and he sent the army to Rabbah to prevent an invasion.   The Ammonite forces were inside the forted up city, while the mercenary groups were out in the open.  Realizing they would have to fight both group simultaneously or risk being caught between them, Joab divided his forces, butting his brother in charge of the forces fighting the city while he led the troops against the Syrian forces, as II Samuel 10:7-12 describes.  “And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.  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.

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: 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.  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.  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.”

David’s army had already wiped out most of the other Syrian forces, and when confronted by Joab the Syrian mercenaries panicked and fled, leaving the Ammonites to fight alone.  The Ammonites quickly withdrew into Rabbah, eliminating the threat of invasion, in II Samuel 10:13-14. “And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.  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.”  With the threat eliminated, Joab and the army returned to Jerusalem. 

Embarrassed by being defeated again. The Syrian leaders united all the various Syrian bands in a massive effort to defeat Israel, I II Samuel 10:15-19.  “And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.  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.

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.  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.  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.”

In their previous battles, the Syrians had lost over sixty thousand men and a thousand chariots.  Losing another forty thousand and over seven hundred chariots severely weakened them.  The Syrians sought a treaty and were afraid to assist the Ammonites in any further attacks on Israel during David’s reign.