2 Samuel Chapter 10

The War with the Ammonites and the Defeat of the Syrians
A. The Offense of the Ammonites

1. (2 Samuel 10:1–2)
“It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. Then David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon.”

David’s reign was marked by both justice and mercy, and here again we see his character in action. After the death of the Ammonite king, David sought to comfort Hanun, the new ruler, remembering the past kindness shown to him by Hanun’s father. This was not merely a political gesture, but an act of compassion rooted in David’s godly character. His kindness toward Mephibosheth in the previous chapter demonstrated his loyalty to covenant and friendship, and now that same heart extended toward a foreign ruler.

a. I will show kindness: David’s kindness toward Mephibosheth did not exhaust his benevolence. True mercy is not limited to those within one’s own circle or faith. In this case, David extended goodwill to a pagan ruler because he sympathized with the pain of his loss. This reveals the king’s integrity—he sought peace and goodwill, reflecting a godly disposition even toward those outside Israel.

b. So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him: David’s kindness was not passive. He took deliberate action by sending envoys to express sympathy. Compassion that is merely felt but not expressed is incomplete. David’s act reminds us that love must be demonstrated, not only declared. As the Apostle John wrote, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

2. (2 Samuel 10:3–5)
“And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it? Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

This passage reveals the destructive nature of suspicion and poor counsel. Hanun’s advisors, motivated by fear or pride, assumed that David’s kindness concealed ulterior motives. Their distrust poisoned the young king’s judgment, leading to an act of public humiliation that would bring war upon their nation.

a. Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you: The advisors’ question sowed doubt in Hanun’s mind. Their cynicism reflected their own deceitful hearts. It is common for those who deal in dishonesty to assume that others act with the same corruption. Their suspicion of David’s sincerity exposed their own lack of integrity. As Proverbs warns, “The perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright” (Proverbs 3:32).

b. Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle... and sent them away: This was an intentional act of deep insult. In Eastern culture, the beard represented honor, maturity, and dignity. To mutilate it was to strip a man of respect. Likewise, cutting off their garments to expose them was a public humiliation. Keil and Delitzsch noted, “With the value universally set upon the beard by the Hebrews and other Oriental nations... the cutting off of one-half of it was the greatest insult that could have been offered to the ambassadors, and through them to David their king.” In essence, this was a public declaration of contempt toward Israel and its God.

Clarke observed, “The beard is held in high respect in the East: the possessor considers it his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it.” To cut it was to attack a man’s honor at its core. Trapp added that the tearing of their garments exposed “the shame of their nakedness, and especially that of their circumcision, so derided by the heathen.” This underscores that the insult was not merely political—it was also religious.

c. To insult the ambassador is to insult the king: By mistreating David’s servants, Hanun effectively attacked David himself. This principle carries into the New Testament regarding Christ and His followers. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). When the world mocks or persecutes the servants of Christ, it is Christ Himself whom they reject.

d. Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return: David’s response was measured and compassionate. He did not immediately retaliate, nor did he exploit the humiliation of his servants for political gain. Instead, he prioritized their dignity and restoration. Jericho was a border city near the Jordan, a place of waiting and recovery. David’s care for their honor demonstrated true leadership—strength restrained by compassion. He would deal with Ammon’s offense in due time, but first he tended to his wounded men.

3. (2 Samuel 10:6–7)
“When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men.”

When the Ammonites realized the gravity of their insult and the inevitable repercussions, they sought strength not through repentance but through alliance. Their shame and fear led them to hire mercenaries from neighboring regions rather than seek reconciliation. This choice demonstrates the folly of pride: rather than humbling themselves before David, they prepared to resist him in defiance.

a. When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive: Scripture carefully states that they made themselves repulsive. David did not reject them; their own actions and arrogance caused enmity. What began as suspicion and mockery now escalated into hostility. This is a pattern often repeated throughout Scripture—sin hardens the heart and drives people further from reconciliation. The Ammonites’ behavior illustrates Proverbs 29:1, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Rather than admitting fault, they prepared for battle against the very one who had offered kindness.

b. The people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians: In their fear, the Ammonites turned to the power of man rather than to God. They placed their trust in alliances and armies, a typical move of pagan nations. According to 1 Chronicles 19:6, the Ammonites paid 1,000 talents of silver to hire these mercenaries—a vast sum equivalent to tens of thousands of pounds of silver. This massive expenditure shows both their fear and their pride. They would rather drain their treasury than humble themselves before David, who had extended mercy to them. Such misplaced confidence in worldly strength is condemned throughout Scripture, as Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

The alliance they built included:

• The Syrians of Beth Rehob and Zoba (20,000 foot soldiers),

• The men of Maacah (1,000 men), and

• The men of Ish-Tob (12,000 men).
  This coalition totaled 33,000 trained fighters, a formidable army. Yet despite their size, they would soon discover that no strength of man can stand against the Lord’s anointed.

c. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men: David’s response was deliberate and decisive. He did not rush into war rashly but acted in wisdom, sending his best commander and his most seasoned warriors. This passage is also the first mention of “the army of the mighty men.” These men formed the backbone of David’s military power. They were not ordinary soldiers but seasoned veterans bound by loyalty, courage, and faith in their king.

i. It’s important to understand that David was nothing without his mighty men, and they were nothing without him: Leadership and loyalty worked hand in hand. David’s victories were never achieved in isolation. The mighty men stood with him through exile, hardship, and countless battles. They began as outcasts in the cave of Adullam—Scripture says, “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them” (1 Samuel 22:2). Under David’s leadership, these broken men were transformed into a disciplined, fearless force. True leadership is measured by the transformation of those who follow.

ii. The valor of David’s mighty men:

• Adino the Eznite became renowned for slaying eight hundred men in one encounter (2 Samuel 23:8).

• Jashobeam struck down three hundred men single-handedly (1 Chronicles 11:11).

• Benaiah was a warrior-priest who slew a lion in a pit on a snowy day and defeated a mighty Egyptian by turning his own spear against him (1 Chronicles 11:22–23).

These accounts show the courage, faith, and strength that marked David’s army. Each man was a testimony to what God can do through loyalty, courage, and divine anointing. Together, they formed a brotherhood of warriors bound by faith in their king and in the God who gave them victory.

B. Victory for Israel

1. (2 Samuel 10:8–12)
“Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array at the entrance of the gate. And the Syrians of Zoba, Beth Rehob, Ish-Tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, that he might set them in battle array against the people of Ammon. Then he said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.”

The battlefield was set for a double-fronted conflict. The Ammonites positioned themselves before the gates of their capital city, while their hired Syrian allies spread across the open fields. Israel was caught between two forces, surrounded on both sides. This was a moment of great danger and a test of faith, leadership, and courage.

a. Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind: The Israelites faced a tactical disadvantage. They could not advance or retreat without facing opposition. Many generals would have considered withdrawal, but Joab, the seasoned commander of David’s mighty men, did not waver. His military instinct and confidence in divine providence drove him to adapt quickly. Surrounded on every side, Joab divided his army to face both fronts simultaneously—a maneuver that required precision and absolute trust among his men. It looked grim, but Joab was undeterred. His courage reflects Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.”

b. If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me: Joab’s words demonstrate strategic clarity and brotherly unity. He and Abishai, his brother, divided command, yet pledged mutual support. This coordination shows faith in teamwork and readiness to reinforce one another. Joab’s approach was aggressive—his strategy was to press the attack rather than wait defensively. He believed that victory belonged to those who acted boldly in faith. The historian Morgan noted, “It is interesting to observe that in his arrangements he made no allowance for the possibility of ultimate defeat… it does not seem to have occurred to him that the combination might have been too much for both of them.” Joab’s mindset was one of confidence, not in self, but in the cause of Israel and in the God who had delivered them before.

c. Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight: Joab’s pre-battle exhortation is one of the finest speeches of faith and patriotism in Scripture. It captures the essence of godly warfare—courage, purpose, and submission to the will of God.

i. “Be of good courage, and let us be strong”: Courage and strength do not depend on emotion or circumstance; they are matters of will and conviction. Joab called his men to a deliberate act of faith. This truth is echoed by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” True courage arises from knowing that the battle belongs to God, not to man.

ii. “Let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God”: Joab reminded his soldiers that the outcome of this battle affected more than themselves. The safety of their families, their nation, and their faith depended on their victory. This was not merely a political or territorial conflict—it was a defense of God’s covenant people and the cities that bore His name. Such perspective transforms fear into duty and duty into devotion.

iii. “And may the Lord do what is good in His sight”: This final statement displays Joab’s balance of faith and realism. He did all that human effort could achieve, but he recognized that the result ultimately rested with God. His words mirror the spirit of submission seen in 1 Samuel 3:18, where Eli said, “It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.” Joab’s attitude teaches us that faith never negates preparation; it complements it. God’s sovereignty does not discourage human effort but directs it toward His will.

2. (2 Samuel 10:13–14)
“So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai, and entered the city. So Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went to Jerusalem.”

Once Joab advanced, the Syrians—seasoned mercenaries though they were—broke ranks and fled without resistance. The text does not even mention combat, emphasizing that God Himself struck fear into the hearts of Israel’s enemies. The victory was so decisive that the Ammonites, seeing their allies in retreat, lost all courage and fled behind their city walls.

a. They fled before him: The Syrians’ swift retreat reveals that the battle was won by divine favor rather than sheer human might. Israel’s courage and God’s presence drove the enemy into confusion. The Lord had promised such blessings upon an obedient Israel: “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways” (Deuteronomy 28:7). Joab’s army did not need to rely on overwhelming numbers or superior weapons—their confidence was rooted in God’s covenant promises.

b. They also fled before Abishai, and entered the city: The Ammonites, witnessing the rout of the Syrians, lost heart. Without the courage to stand alone, they withdrew behind the fortified walls of Rabbah. Fear spread faster than the sword, proving once again that the Lord’s presence is the greatest weapon of all. The faith and leadership of Joab and Abishai transformed what seemed like an impossible situation into a decisive victory.

Joab’s men then withdrew to Jerusalem, awaiting the next phase of the conflict. The Ammonite threat was not yet fully subdued, but Israel had won a critical victory that demonstrated God’s favor and the power of unified faith.

3. (2 Samuel 10:15–19)
“When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together. Then Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River, and they came to Helam. And Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. When it was told David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in battle array against David and fought with him. Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.”

After the first defeat, the Syrians refused to accept humiliation and regrouped to challenge Israel again. Their pride, coupled with Hadadezer’s ambition, pushed them into a final confrontation with David himself. This battle marked a decisive turning point that would extend Israel’s influence and confirm David’s supremacy in the region.

a. When the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered together: The Syrians’ persistence shows that the enemies of God’s people often refuse to yield after a single defeat. They reorganize, return, and test the faithful again, illustrating the continuous nature of spiritual warfare. As it is written in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Even after clear evidence of God’s power, pride often blinds the wicked, compelling them to fight a losing battle.

Hadadezer’s decision to summon reinforcements from “beyond the River”—referring to the Euphrates—indicates that this was not merely a local skirmish but a large-scale regional war. The alliance of Syrian kings under Hadadezer’s leadership represented a significant coalition of northern powers rising against God’s chosen nation.

b. When it was told David, he gathered all Israel: This time David did not delegate the matter to Joab alone. The gravity of the situation required the king’s presence, and David responded with the decisiveness of a true leader. He mobilized “all Israel,” crossing the Jordan River to meet the enemy head-on at Helam. The mention of David leading the army personally is significant, for victory came when the anointed king himself went to battle.

The result was overwhelming. The Syrians’ organized army, under the command of Shobach, collapsed before David’s forces. Scripture records, “Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen of the Syrians, and struck Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.” The scale of victory demonstrates God’s hand. The defeat of their commander demoralized the entire Syrian coalition, forcing them to retreat and submit.

This battle fulfilled God’s covenant promise of victory over Israel’s enemies. Deuteronomy 28:7 declares, “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.” What had been attempted by a confederation of hostile nations ended in complete subjugation to the Lord’s chosen king.

i. The chapter ends with unfinished business at Rabbah: Although the Syrians were defeated, the Ammonites still held out within the walls of their capital city, Rabbah. After the victory, Joab returned to Jerusalem, and the campaign was temporarily paused. This gap in warfare set the stage for one of the most infamous episodes in David’s life. The following spring, David remained behind in Jerusalem instead of leading his army to Rabbah, and there he fell into sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).

ii. Many know about David’s sin with Bathsheba, but few notice the warning that came beforehand: In 2 Samuel 10, God graciously gave David a chance to see his dependence on divine strength in warfare. Initially, David allowed Joab to handle the conflict, but when the threat escalated, he joined the fight, and God blessed his involvement with victory. This moment was intended as a divine reminder—David’s place was in the field, leading God’s people, not at ease in his palace. The Lord used this victory to reveal that success and safety come only when His anointed walks in obedience. Sadly, David would later ignore this warning, choosing comfort over duty.

The spiritual principle is clear: success in one season of faithfulness does not guarantee continued obedience in the next. Complacency after victory often becomes the seedbed of failure. God had blessed David when he led his people into battle, but sin found him when he stayed home. The warning remains timeless—spiritual laziness opens the door for temptation.