20140719 Saturday, July 19 2014
1 Chronicles 19: What Did Hanun Do To David's Ambassadors?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me"

Amon and Moab were territories located east of the Jordan River (see the Fact Finder question below). They were named after two of Lot's sons (Genesis 19:30-38; see also Why Did Lot's Wife Look Back?). In the time of King David, "Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me." The ambassadors sent by David were a peaceful expression of genuine compassion and humility on the part of David.

The English word "arrogance" originated from a Latin word, arrogantia, which meant to desire, as in to behave or speak with exorbitant claims of superiority. The original word, as does the Hebrew word that it's used to translate, simply meant to covet what is not right. Unfortunately for themselves, the new king of Amon and his foolish advisors were arrogant. They "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."

"19:1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead. 19:2 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. 19:3 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? 19:4 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." (1 Chronicles 19:1-4 KJV)

David's first response was to care for his humiliated diplomats. David did not then immediately declare war on the Amonites. They did - by launching a massive invasion of Israel, including Syrian mercenaries.

"19:5 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.

19:6 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 Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. 19:7 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." (1 Chronicles 19:5-7 KJV)

David's army commander, Joab, led the defense of Israel. Joab wasn't an arrogant fool either. He mustered the army with the proclamation "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."

"19:8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 19:9 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.

19:10 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. 19:11 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. 19:12 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. 19:13 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.

19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. 19:15 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." (1 Chronicles 19:8-15 KJV)

King David then led a second army group into battle in response to Amon's drawing the Syrians into the conflict. Both Amon and Syrian were then given a lesson about the bitter fruit of arrogance.

"19:16 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.

19:17 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. 19:18 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.

19:19 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." (1 Chronicles 19:16-19 KJV)

Fact Finder: (a) Amon and Moab were located east of the Jordan River. Did the LORD change Jacob's name to Israel as he was about to cross the Jordan from there? (b) Did much of Amon and Moab become Israelite territory in the time of Moses? (c) Is Moses buried somewhere in Amon and Moab?
(a) See Where Jacob Became Israel
(b) See The Israel Of East Jordan
(c) See The Passage Of Moses