Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 10

Introduction

Overview

2 Samuel 10:1, David’s messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villanously treated; 2 Samuel 10:6, The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai; 2 Samuel 10:15, Shobach, making a new supply of the Syrians at Helam, is slain by David.

Verse 1

AM 2967, bc 1037, An, Ex, Is, 454

king: Judges 10:7-9, Judges 11:12-28, 1 Samuel 11:1-3, 1 Chronicles 19:1-3

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:38 - children Genesis 22:17 - thy seed Genesis 27:29 - Let people 2 Samuel 17:27 - the son of Nahash 1 Kings 5:1 - sent 2 Chronicles 27:5 - the king of the Ammonites Nehemiah 4:7 - the Ammonites Psalms 18:38 - General Psalms 18:43 - made Psalms 68:30 - Rebuke Psalms 118:10 - All nations Jeremiah 40:14 - Ammonites Amos 1:13 - and for

Verse 2

show kindness: Deuteronomy 23:3-6, Nehemiah 4:3-7, Nehemiah 13:1-3

Nahash: 1 Samuel 11:1

as his father: 1 Samuel 22:3, 1 Samuel 22:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 2:6 - I also 2 Samuel 17:27 - the son of Nahash 1 Kings 5:1 - sent 2 Kings 20:12 - sent letters Isaiah 39:1 - sent letters Jeremiah 37:2 - the prophet John 11:19 - to comfort Ephesians 6:20 - bonds

Verse 3

Thinkest thou that David doth: Heb. In thine eyes doth David

not: Genesis 42:9, Genesis 42:16, 1 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 13:7

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:3 - to search 2 Samuel 3:25 - and to know Romans 2:3 - thinkest

Verse 4

and shaved: The beard is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge; for its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans. The Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the seraglios have their beards shaven, as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer them to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for anyone to appear with his beard cut off, than among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment. Leviticus 19:27, 1 Chronicles 19:3, 1 Chronicles 19:4, Psalms 109:4, Psalms 109:5, Isaiah 15:2

cut off: Isaiah 20:4, Isaiah 47:2, Isaiah 47:3, Jeremiah 41:5

Reciprocal: Isaiah 50:6 - my cheeks

Verse 5

Jericho: Joshua 6:24-26, 1 Kings 16:34, 1 Chronicles 19:5

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 19:4 - sent them

Verse 6

stank: Genesis 34:30, Exodus 5:21, 1 Samuel 13:4, 1 Samuel 27:12, 1 Chronicles 19:6, 1 Chronicles 19:7

Syrians of Bethrehob: 2 Samuel 8:3, 2 Samuel 8:5, 2 Samuel 8:12, Zobah, Proverbs 25:8, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10

Maacah: Joshua 13:11-13

Ishtob: or, the men of Tob, Judges 11:3, Judges 11:5

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 3:14 - Geshuri Judges 18:28 - Bethrehob 1 Samuel 14:47 - Zobah 2 Samuel 10:8 - Rehob 1 Chronicles 18:3 - Zobah Psalms 9:5 - rebuked Psalms 48:4 - General Psalms 83:5 - they are Psalms 144:11 - and deliver me Ecclesiastes 3:8 - a time of war Jeremiah 40:8 - Maachathite Jeremiah 46:21 - her hired Ezekiel 27:16 - Syria

Verse 7

all the host: 2 Samuel 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 19:8-19

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:2 - the hand of Joab

Verse 8

at the entering: This was at the city of Medeba, a city upon the borders of the Ammonites, and in their possession. 1 Chronicles 19:7

Rehob: 2 Samuel 10:6, Numbers 13:21, Joshua 19:28, Judges 1:31

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:23 - Hadadezer 1 Chronicles 19:9 - the kings 2 Chronicles 13:14 - looked back Jeremiah 40:8 - Maachathite

Verse 9

Joshua 8:21, Joshua 8:22, Judges 20:42, Judges 20:43

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 19:10 - when Joab 1 Chronicles 26:28 - Joab Jeremiah 50:14 - in array

Verse 10

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 2 Samuel 23:18 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover

Verse 11

1 Chronicles 19:9-12, Nehemiah 4:20, Luke 22:32, Romans 15:1, Galatians 6:2, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 1:28

Reciprocal: Judges 1:3 - I likewise 2 Samuel 8:12 - Syria 2 Samuel 18:3 - succour Proverbs 27:17 - so

Verse 12

Be of good: This is a very animating address, and equal to anything of the kind in ancient or modern times. Ye fight pro aris et focis; for every good, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your countries. Such harangues, especially in very trying circumstances, are very natural, and may perhaps be found in the records of every nation. Several instances might be quoted from Roman and Grecian history; but few are more remarkable than that of Tyrtaeus, the lame Athenian poet, to whom the command of the army was given in one of the Messenian wars. The Spartans had at that time suffered great losses, and all their stratagems proved ineffectual, so that they began to despair of success; when the poet, by his lectures on honour and courage, delivered in moving verse to the army, ravished them to such a degree with the thoughts of dying for their country, that, rushing on with a furious transport to meet their enemies, they gave them an entire overthrow, and by one decisive battle brought the war to a happy conclusion. Numbers 13:20, Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Joshua 1:18, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 14:12, 1 Samuel 17:32, 2 Chronicles 32:7, Nehemiah 4:14, Hebrews 13:6

play: 1 Samuel 4:9, 1 Chronicles 19:13, 1 Corinthians 16:13

the Lord: 2 Samuel 16:10, 2 Samuel 16:11, Judges 10:15, 1 Samuel 3:18, Job 1:21

Reciprocal: Judges 18:9 - be not 1 Samuel 17:37 - Go 2 Samuel 2:7 - let your 2 Samuel 24:3 - General 1 Kings 2:2 - and show Esther 4:16 - if I perish Psalms 60:12 - we shall Proverbs 27:17 - so

Verse 13

they fled: 1 Kings 20:13-21, 1 Kings 20:28-30, 1 Chronicles 19:14, 1 Chronicles 19:15, 2 Chronicles 13:5-16

Verse 14

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 8:12 - Syria 2 Samuel 20:6 - Abishai 2 Samuel 22:38 - General 2 Samuel 23:18 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover Psalms 48:4 - General

Verse 15

am 2968, bc 1036, An, Ex, Is, 455

gathered: Psalms 2:1, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10, Micah 4:11, Micah 4:12, Zechariah 14:2, Zechariah 14:3, Revelation 19:19-21

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 11:23 - Hadadezer

Verse 16

Hadarezer: 2 Samuel 8:3-8, 1 Chronicles 18:3, 1 Chronicles 18:5

the river: i.e. Euphrates

Shobach: or, Shophach, 1 Chronicles 19:16

Reciprocal: Psalms 48:4 - General Psalms 60:1 - when he strove

Verse 17

he gathered: 1 Chronicles 19:17

Verse 18

fled: 2 Samuel 8:4, Psalms 18:38, Psalms 46:11

horsemen: 1 Chronicles 19:18, footmen

Shobach: Judges 4:2, Judges 4:22, Judges 5:26

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 20:29 - an hundred thousand 2 Chronicles 12:3 - twelve hundred Psalms 20:7 - Some trust Psalms 76:6 - both

Verse 19

servants: Genesis 14:1-5, Joshua 11:10, Judges 1:7, 1 Kings 20:1, Daniel 2:37

feared: 2 Samuel 8:6, 1 Chronicles 19:19, Psalms 18:37, Psalms 18:38, Psalms 48:4, Psalms 48:5, Isaiah 26:11, Revelation 18:10

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:67 - Before