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The story is here repeated of David's war with the Ammonites and the Syrians their allies, and the victories he obtained over them, which we read just as it is here related, 2Sa 10:1-19 Here is, I. David's civility to the king of Ammon, in sending an embassy of condolence to him on occasion of his father's death, 1Ch 19:1,2. II. His great incivility to David, in the base usage he gave to his ambassadors, 1Ch 19:3,4. III. David's just resentment of it, and the war which broke out thereupon, in which the Ammonites acted with policy in bringing the Syrians to their assistance (1Ch 19:6,7), Joab did bravely (1Ch 19:8-13), and Israel was once and again victorious, 1Ch 19:14-19.
1-5
Ill Usage of David's Servants (1037 BC)
繁體中文
大衛僕人受辱（主前 1037 年）
¹ 此後，亞捫人的王拿轄死了，他兒子接續他作王。 ² 大衛說：「我要照哈嫩的父親拿轄向我所施的恩慈，恩待哈嫩的兒子。」於是大衛差遣使者為他喪父安慰他。大衛的臣僕到了亞捫人那裏，為哈嫩安慰他。 ³ 但亞捫人的首領對哈嫩說：「大衛差遣人來安慰你，你想他是尊敬你父親嗎？他的臣僕來到你這裏，豈不是為窺探、傾覆、窺察這地嗎？」 ⁴ 哈嫩便將大衛的臣僕抓住，剃了他們的鬍鬚，又割斷他們下半部的衣服，露出下體，打發他們回去。 ⁵ 有人告訴大衛，告訴這些人是怎樣被對待的。他就差人去迎接他們；因為他們甚覺羞恥。王說：「你們住在耶利哥，等到鬍鬚長起再回來。」
我們在此觀察到，1. 善人當與鄰舍和睦，尤其當存感恩之心。大衛因為哈嫩是他的鄰舍，便要尊重他；信仰教導我們當對眾人有禮、樂於助人，當尊敬眾人，並隨時向我們周圍的人行各樣的善事；信仰的不同不應當成為這方面的攔阻。但除此之外，大衛還記得他父親從前向他所施的恩慈。受了恩惠的人，當在自己能力和機會許可之內報答；受了父母恩惠的，當父母離世之後報答在他們兒女身上。2. 正如古人的俗語所說：「惡事出於惡人」（撒上二十四13）。卑鄙的人必說卑鄙的話，吝嗇人的器具也必是邪惡的，「用謊言毁滅那講正義話的人」（賽三十二6、7）。自己卑鄙、心懷惡意的人，往往容易無故地嫉妒別人、猜疑別人行惡。哈嫩的僕人暗示大衛的使者是來作探子的──彷彿大衛這樣一位偉大、權勢顯赫的人需要作如此卑劣的事（他若對亞捫人有甚麼企圖，大可用公開的武力實現，無需任何詭詐的手段）；又彷彿一位如此有德行、如此受人尊敬的人會作如此卑鄙的事。然而哈嫩竟聽從了這個讒言，違背國際通行的準則，惡毒地對待了大衛的使者。3. 主人當保護僕人，並以極大的體恤關心他們；他們若在服事中受了任何損失或傷害，主人當為他們著想。大衛就是如此對待他的使者（代上十九5）。基督也必如此對待他的僕人；願一切作主人的也「公公平平地待僕人」。
英文原文
Ill Usage of David's Servants (1037 BC)
¹ Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
² 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.
³ 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?
⁴ 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.
⁵ 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.
Let us here observe, 1. That is becomes good people to be neighbourly, and especially to be grateful. David will pay respect to Hanun because he is his neighbour; and religion teaches us to be civil and obliging to all, to honour all men, and to be ready to do all offices of kindness to those we live among; nor must difference in religion be any obstruction to this. But, besides this, David remembered the kindness which his father showed to him. Those that have received kindness must return it as they have ability and opportunity: those that have received it from the parents must return it to the children when they are gone. 2. That, as saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, 1Sa 24:13. The vile person will speak villany, and the instruments of the churl will be evil, to destroy those with lying words that speak right, Isa 32:6,7. Those that are base, and design ill themselves, are apt to be jealous and to suspect ill of others without cause. Hanun's servant suggested that David's ambassadors came as spies, as if so great and mighty a man as David needed to do so mean a thing (if he had any design upon the Ammonites, he could effect it by open force, and had no occasion for any fraudulent practices), or as if a man of such virtue and honour would do so base a thing. Yet Hanun hearkened to the suggestion, and, against the law of nations, treated David's ambassadors villainously. 3. Masters ought to protect their servants, and with the greatest tenderness to concern themselves for them if they come by any loss or damage in their service. David did so for his ambassadors, 1Ch 19:5. Christ will do so for his ministers; and let all masters thus give unto their servants that which is just and equal.
6-19
The Defeat of the Ammonites (1036 BC)
繁體中文
亞捫人被擊敗（主前 1036 年）
⁶ 亞捫人見自己與大衛結了仇，哈嫩和亞捫人就打發人拿一千他連得銀子，從米所波大米、亞蘭瑪迦、瑣巴雇戰車和馬兵。 ⁷ 於是雇了三萬二千輛戰車，又有瑪迦王和他的百姓來了；他們在米底巴前安營。亞捫人也從各城聚集出來，要爭戰。 ⁸ 大衛聽見了，就差遣約押和全軍的勇士出去。 ⁹ 亞捫人出來在城門前擺陣；所來的諸王另在田野安營。 ¹⁰ 約押看見自己在前後都有敵軍擺陣，就從以色列的精兵中挑選出來，使他們擺陣，對着敘利亞人。 ¹¹ 其餘的百姓交在他兄弟亞比篩手中，使他們擺陣，對着亞捫人。 ¹² 約押說：「若是敘利亞人強過我，你就來幫助我；若是亞捫人強過你，我就去幫助你。 ¹³ 你要剛強，我們也要為自己的百姓、為我們神的城邑剛強行事。願耶和華憑他的旨意行。」 ¹⁴ 於是約押和跟隨他的人前進，攻打敘利亞人；敘利亞人在他面前逃跑了。 ¹⁵ 亞捫人見敘利亞人逃跑，他們也在他兄弟亞比篩面前逃跑，進了城。約押就回到耶路撒冷去了。 ¹⁶ 敘利亞人見自己在以色列人面前被擊敗，就差遣人去，把河那邊的敘利亞人也調出來；哈大底謝的元帥朔法在他們前頭領軍。 ¹⁷ 有人告訴大衛；他就聚集以色列眾人，過了約但河，來到他們那裏，對着他們擺陣。大衛向敘利亞人擺陣之後，他們就與他交戰。 ¹⁸ 敘利亞人在以色列人面前逃跑。大衛殺了敘利亞七千輛戰車的人、四萬步兵，又殺了元帥朔法。 ¹⁹ 哈大底謝的臣僕見自己在以色列人面前被擊敗，就與大衛講和，臣服於他。從此敘利亞人不再幫助亞捫人了。
我們在此可以看到，1. 那些被標記為毁滅的罪人，他們的心是何等剛硬，以至於走向毁滅。亞捫人看見「自己與大衛結了仇」（代上十九6），那時他們本當謙卑自己、為自己所加於他的損害獻上任何賠償以求和，這才是明智之舉，更何況他們不僅與大衛結了仇，也得罪了神的公義──神是「萬國的王」，他必為受損的權利聲張，必維護被干犯的萬國律法。但他們不但沒有如此行，反而預備爭戰，於是便藉大衛的手將那從未打算加於他們的荒涼招致到自己身上。2. 勇士的勇氣在困難中是何等被激發並加強。當約押看見自己在前後都有敵軍擺陣之時（代上十九10），他不但沒有打算撤退，反而加倍堅定決心；他既不能使軍隊加倍，便將之分為兩路，並且不僅像一個英勇的人那樣說話，也像一個英勇的人那樣行事──在四周受敵之時仍有極大的鎮定。他與兄弟約定互相協助（代上十九12），激勵自己和其他將士在各人的崗位上奮勇行事──但他們的眼目注視著神的榮耀和國家的利益，而非自己的尊榮和益處──然後將結果交託給神：「願耶和華憑他的旨意行。」3. 最大的計謀和力量在公義和公平面前是何等徒然。亞捫人已經盡了最大努力充分利用自己的處境：他們把最好的兵力投入戰場，並以最高的策略部署；但因為他們的事業是不義的，他們是為不義而戰，所以無濟於事；他們終究敗北。公義至終必得勝並凱旋。4. 凡沒有神站在他們一邊的人，重新集結、增援自己，是何等徒勞。敘利亞人雖然與這件事的是非曲直毫不相干，不過是作亞捫人的傭兵，但被打敗之後，自覺有損顏面，便調來了伯拉河那邊的敘利亞人；但仍是徒然，因為他們仍然「在以色列人面前逃跑」（代上十九18）；他們損失了七千人──這七千人據說就是七百輛戰車上的人（撒下十18）。因為正如現今海軍中每門炮配十人一樣，那時陸軍中每輛戰車也配十人。5. 凡「與自己無干的爭鬥」糾纏，結果發現自己「糾纏到自己心裏受苦」的人，至終學到功課、不再糾纏，是明智的。敘利亞人發現以色列是得勝的一方，不僅斷絕了與亞捫人的聯盟，不再幫助他們（代上十九19），而且「與大衛講和，臣服於他」。凡徒然抵擋神的人，當如此為自己著想，「趁還在路上，快快與他和好」。當作他的僕人；因為他們不能不看到，自己若作他的仇敵，便必定滅亡。
英文原文
The Defeat of the Ammonites (1036 BC)
⁶ 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 Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah.
⁷ 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.
⁸ And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ 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.
¹¹ 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.
¹² 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.
¹³ 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.
¹⁴ So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.
¹⁵ 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.
¹⁶ 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.
¹⁷ 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.
¹⁸ 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.
¹⁹ 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.
We may see here, 1. How the hearts of sinners that are marked for ruin are hardened to their destruction. The children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David (1Ch 19:6), and then it would have been their wisdom to desire conditions of peace, to humble themselves and offer any satisfaction for the injury they had done him, the rather because they had made themselves not only odious to David, but obnoxious to the justice of God, who is King of nations, and will assert the injured rights and maintain the violated laws of nations. But, instead of this, they prepared for war, and so brought upon themselves, by David's hand, those desolations which he never intended them. 2. How the courage of brave men is heightened and invigorated by difficulties. When Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind (1Ch 19:10), instead of meditating a retreat, he doubled his resolution; and, though he could not double, he divided his army, and not only spoke, but acted, like a gallant man, that had great presence of mind when he saw himself surrounded. He engaged with his brother for mutual assistance (1Ch 19:12), excited himself and the rest of the officers to act vigorously in their respective posts, with an eye to God's glory and their country's good, not to any honour and advantage of their own, and then left the issue to God: Let the Lord do that which is right in his sight. 3. How vain the greatest art and strength are against justice and equity. The Ammonites did their utmost to make the best of their position: they brought as good a force into the field, and disposed it with as much policy as possible; yet, having a bad cause, and acting in defence of wrong, it would not do; they were put to the worst. Right will prevail and triumph at last. 4. To how little purpose it is for those to rally again, and reinforce themselves, that have not God on their side. The Syrians, though in no way concerned in the merits of the cause, but serving only as mercenaries to the Ammonites, when they were beaten, thought themselves concerned to retrieve their honour, and therefore called in the assistance of the Syrians on the other side Euphrates; but to no purpose, for still they fled before Israel (1Ch 19:18); they lost 7000 men, who are said to be the men of 700 chariots, 2Sa 10:18. For, as now in a man of war for sea-service they allot ten men to a gun, so then, in land-service, ten men to a chariot. 5. those who have meddled with strife that belongs not to them, and have found that they meddled to their own heart, do well to learn wit at length and meddle no further. The Syrians, finding that Israel was the conquering side, not only broke off their alliance with the Ammonites and would help them no more (1Ch 19:19), but made peace with David and became his servants. Let those who have in vain stood it out against God be thus wise for themselves, and agree with him quickly, while they are in the way. Let them become his servants; for they cannot but see themselves undone if they be his enemies.
此處重述了大衛與亞捫人及其盟軍亞蘭人的戰爭，以及他所得的勝利；這事我們已經讀過，內容與此處所記完全一樣（撒下十1–19）。此處我們讀到：一、大衛對亞捫王的禮遇，因他父親去世而差遣使團前往弔慰（代上十九1–2）。二、亞捫王對大衛的大大無禮，竟惡待他的使者（代上十九3–4）。三、大衛對此事公義的回應，以及隨之爆發的戰爭；其中亞捫人運用策略，招聚亞蘭人來相助（代上十九6–7），約押英勇作戰（代上十九8–13），以色列人也接連得勝（代上十九14–19）。