Bible Commentaries

And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

The king of the children of Ammon died. — Death is the only king "against whom there is no rising up." as it is in Proverbs 30:31 . Nugus, king of Scythia, slighted certain precious presents sent him by Michal Paleologus, the Emperor, asking whether they could drive away sickness and death; for if so, then they would be worth the receiving. Pachym., Hist., lib. v.

And Hanun his son reigned in his stead. — Or, Chanun. The Greek hath it Annon: a good name, as signifying Gracious, but ill bestowed. There was an ancient Latin poet, contemporary with Virgil and Ovid, called Gratius the Faliseian; he bore a high esteem in that pure age. But this king carried grace in his name only, as did Ptolomeus Euergetes, Antiochus Epiphanes, and some princes and popes.

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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.

Then said David. — Let Hanun be as graceless as he will, David will show himself gracious by being grateful. The same Greek word χαρις signifieth both grace and gratitude. Neither doth the ill success he had argue that he did amiss, as Pellican will have it: for duty is to be done, however it speed or take with wicked persons. What if Hanun were a heathen king? might not his friendship be therefore sought? might not his father’s courtesy be requited? If a very dog fawn upon us, we stroke him on the head, and clap him on the side: much less is the common band of humanity untied by grace.

As his father showed kindness unto me. — What this kindness was in particular, the Scripture showeth not: the Hebrews say, that when the king of Moab had slain David’s parents and brethren - whom he left with him for safeguard from Saul - one of his brethren escaped and fled to Nahash, king of Ammon, who helped him. Abulensis, Lyra, Angelomus, and others say, that when David fled from Achish, king of Gath, he came to the king of Ammon, who showed him kindness, and out of his hatred to Saul, their common enemy, bestowed many favours upon him. This David now desireth to requite, but meeteth with coarse entertainment.

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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?

Thinkest thou that David, …? — q.d, We think otherwise: wicked men muse as they use, and measure others by their own foot. These tale bearers - besides the old quarrel Genesis 3:15 compare Matthew 23:13 Acts 13:10 Proverbs 29:27 1 John 3:8 - retained a hereditary hatred against Israel. See Deuteronomy 23:3-5 . And hence these evil surmises, calumnies, and sinful counsels, whereof at length themselves had the worst.

“ ηδε κακη βουλη τω βουλευσαντι κακιστη ”

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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.

Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants. — His ambassadors, whom to misuse was against the law of nations, and severely punished by the Romans upon the Corinthians, whose city they razed and destroyed for some contumelious speeches given to their ambassadors. But Hanun did not only reproach and revile these men, sed turpiter deformavit Legatorum vultum et vestitum, but basely deformed and abused them, 1 Chronicles 19:4 which the Vulgate rendereth, Decalvavit, rasit, praecidit tunicas eorum, making it a threefold indignity and ignominy that he put upon them.

And shaved off the one half of their beards. — Which, amongst the Greeks and the Egyptians, was wont to be done in derision and for a scorn. Imo apud omnes nationes probrosum est barbam vellere. Plut., in Ages. Herod. Euterp. But there was more in it than all this; for these Ammonites knew that the Israelites were forbidden either a shaven beard or a short garment. In despite therefore, likely, to their law, David’s ambassadors are sent away with both. Julian the apostate served the Christians, whom he contumeliously called Galileans, in like sort, writing books against their gospel, and robbing them of their riches, that, as he said, they might go more readily to heaven.

And cut off their garments. — Which the Hebrews wore long and side, both for ease and honesty. See Isaiah 20:4 ; Isaiah 47:2-3 . As for those Christiansthat separate knowledge and good conscience, they deal by their holy calling, saith one, as Hanun did by David’s servants, when he disguised them, and cut heir garments in the midst.

Even to their buttocks. — That the shame of their nakedness might appear, and especially that of their circumcision, so derided by the heathen.

“ Credat Iudaeus Apella ”

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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.

When they told it unto David. — Who could not but feel his own cheeks shaven, and his own coat cut in his ambassadors, who did but carry his person to Hanun: like as also Christ’s faithful ministers do his to the world, 2 Corinthians 5:20 which is therefore charged to "do his prophets no harm."

Tarry at Jericho. — In some cottage or village thereabouts: for Jericho was not rebuilt till long after. 1 Kings 16:34

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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.

Saw that they stank before David. — Who could not but be very sensible, they knew, of their odious indignity done to his ambassadors, and would surely revenge it; as there was never any prince so poor and despicable that would put up such an affront: and shall Jesus Christ? I think not. Julian, for instance, paid for his petulancy.

And of Ishtob. — Which signifieth, A good man; but this was such another for true goodness as our late Bishop Goodman, who died a professed Papist, Feb. 19, 1655, soon after whom followed, to the great grief of all good men, that most reverend Archbishop Ussher, an Ishtob indeed, who better deserved the surname of Bonus Good, than ever did Phocion the Athenian. Cleri debonestamentum, Godf. Goodman. Praesulum decus ille Jacobus Armachanus. - Gatak. Cinnus, cap. 5.

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And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

He sent Joab. — As far as Medeba, a city in the borders of Amnon, choosing rather to make that the seat of the war than his own country.

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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.

At the entering in of the gate, — viz., Of Medeba; 1 Chronicles 19:7 ; 1 Chronicles 19:9 for that bush they thought good to keep on their backs, however the day should happen; and that stake to have still in store, however the dice chanced to turn. But how wretchedly reckless was Pompey, who never considered into what place he should retire if beaten by Julius Caesar, as he was at the Pharsalian field.

Were by themselves in the field. — As not fit to be trusted near the town, being such a multitude of mercenaries, and, in reference to David, who had lately subdued them, a rabble of rebels.

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