Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 10

Introduction

2 Samuel 9-10. (J.) These chapters are of the utmost value, both as literature and as history. They seem to be the work either of a contemporary, or of some one who was familiar with the facts through the testimony of contemporaries.

Verses 1-19

2 Samuel 10. War with the Ammonites and the Syrians (J).

2 Samuel 10:1-5 . The king of Ammon insults David’ s ambassadors. [J. G. Frazer ( Taboo and the Perils of the Soul, p. 273) connects Hanun’ s action with the well-known belief that to get possession of the hair of a person is to have him in one’ s power. He supposes that Hanun, distrusting David’ s designs and desirous to have some guarantee of peace, thought he secured this by retaining half the beards and garments He quotes as a parallel the treatment of a traitor by two Moabite Arabs who shaved completely one side of his head and his moustache on the other, and set him at liberty.— A. S. P.]

2 Samuel 10:6-14 . The Ammonites hire mercenaries from the Syrian states; Joab takes command of the general levy of Israel and the standing army (read, “ the host and the mighty men” ; probably David’ s 600 were continued as the nucleus of a standing army). Joab marched to the gate, i.e. of Rabbah, the capital of Ammon; and though caught between the Ammonites and the Syrians, won a signal victory.

2 Samuel 10:6 . Beth-rehob: Numbers 13:21 *.— Maachah: Deuteronomy 3:14.— Tob: Judges 11:3 *.

2 Samuel 10:15-19 . Further victories over the Syrians. Apparently a variant of 2 Samuel 8:3-8, which see; perhaps an editorial addition.