Bible Chapter Summary
2 Samuel 10 Summary
Ammonite Insult and Syria Defeated
After the king of Ammon dies, his son Hanun succeeds him. David determines to show kindness to Hanun as his father had shown kindness to David, and sends servants to comfort him. The Ammonite princes persuade Hanun that David's servants are spies sent to search and overthrow the city. Hanun shames David's servants by shaving half their beards and cutting their garments to their buttocks, then sends them away. David tells the ashamed men to wait in Jericho until their beards grow. The Ammonites, knowing they have provoked David, hire Syrians from Beth-rehob and Zoba, a thousand men from King Maacah, and twelve thousand from Ish-tob. David sends Joab and the mighty men to battle. Joab positions his forces strategically and defeats both the Syrians and Ammonites. When the Syrians regroup with reinforcements from beyond the river under Hadarezer and Shobach, David unites all Israel, crosses Jordan, and defeats them decisively, slaying seven hundred chariot men and forty thousand horsemen. The defeated kings make peace with Israel and cease aiding Ammon.
Key themes
Key verses
2 Samuel 10:2-3
“Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.”
2 Samuel 10:6
“And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.”
2 Samuel 10:11-12
“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 come and help thee.”
2 Samuel 10:18-19
“And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.”
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