1 Chronicles 19: Summary and Commentary

Verse 1

19:1-7 The new Ammonite ruler, Hanun, took exception to Israel’s presence so close to his nation. The Ammonites hired Aramean armies from the north, and these combined forces assembled at Medeba to challenge David’s control of Moab’s plateau.

Verse 9

19:9-13 The enemy armies drew their battle lines strategically; the Ammonites positioned themselves so that the city of Medeba could serve as a refuge, while the Israelites also had to deal with a second offensive from the Arameans. Joab divided his forces to fight on both fronts from a central rallying point.

Verse 13

19:13 Joab knew that the battle was not being waged to gain more territory but to defend the people and the cities of Israel from invasion (cp. 19:8). • Joab placed his trust in God, knowing that the outcome depended on the Lord’s providence.

Verse 16

19:16-19 In the battle against the Arameans, David accomplished three objectives: He challenged Hadadezer’s supremacy, threw the alliance of the Arameans into disarray, and prevented any possible future alliance between the Arameans and the Ammonites.

Verse 1

Let us here observe, 1. That is becomes good people to be neighbourly, and especially to be grateful. David will pay respect to Hanun because he is his neighbour; and religion teaches us to be civil and obliging to all, to honour all men, and to be ready to do all offices of kindness to those we live among; nor must difference in religion be any obstruction to this. But, besides this, David remembered the kindness which his father showed to him. Those that have received kindness must return it as they have ability and opportunity: those that have received it from the parents must return it to the children when they are gone. 2. That, as saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, Sa1 24:13. The vile person will speak villany, and the instruments of the churl will be evil, to destroy those with lying words that speak right, Isa 32:6, Isa 32:7. Those that are base, and design ill themselves, are apt to be jealous and to suspect ill of others without cause. Hanun's servant suggested that David's ambassadors came as spies, as if so great and mighty a man as David needed to do so mean a thing (if he had any design upon the Ammonites, he could effect it by open force, and had no occasion for any fraudulent practices), or as if a man of such virtue and honour would do so base a thing. Yet Hanun hearkened to the suggestion, and, against the law of nations, treated David's ambassadors villainously. 3. Masters ought to protect their servants, and with the greatest tenderness to concern themselves for them if they come by any loss or damage in their service. David did so for his ambassadors, Ch1 19:5. Christ will do so for his ministers; and let all masters thus give unto their servants that which is just and equal.

Verse 6

We may see here, 1. How the hearts of sinners that are marked for ruin are hardened to their destruction. The children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David (Ch1 19:6), and then it would have been their wisdom to desire conditions of peace, to humble themselves and offer any satisfaction for the injury they had done him, the rather because they had made themselves not only odious to David, but obnoxious to the justice of God, who is King of nations, and will assert the injured rights and maintain the violated laws of nations. But, instead of this, they prepared for war, and so brought upon themselves, by David's hand, those desolations which he never intended them. 2. How the courage of brave men is heightened and invigorated by difficulties. When Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind (Ch1 19:10), instead of meditating a retreat, he doubled his resolution; and, though he could not double, he divided his army, and not only spoke, but acted, like a gallant man, that had great presence of mind when he saw himself surrounded. He engaged with his brother for mutual assistance (Ch1 19:12), excited himself and the rest of the officers to act vigorously in their respective posts, with an eye to God's glory and their country's good, not to any honour and advantage of their own, and then left the issue to God: Let the Lord do that which is right in his sight. 3. How vain the greatest art and strength are against justice and equity. The Ammonites did their utmost to make the best of their position: they brought as good a force into the field, and disposed it with as much policy as possible; yet, having a bad cause, and acting in defence of wrong, it would not do; they were put to the worst. Right will prevail and triumph at last. 4. To how little purpose it is for those to rally again, and reinforce themselves, that have not God on their side. The Syrians, though in no way concerned in the merits of the cause, but serving only as mercenaries to the Ammonites, when they were beaten, thought themselves concerned to retrieve their honour, and therefore called in the assistance of the Syrians on the other side Euphrates; but to no purpose, for still they fled before Israel (Ch1 19:18); they lost 7000 men, who are said to be the men of 700 chariots, Sa2 10:18. For, as now in a man of war for sea-service they allot ten men to a gun, so then, in land-service, ten men to a chariot. 5. those who have meddled with strife that belongs not to them, and have found that they meddled to their own heart, do well to learn wit at length and meddle no further. The Syrians, finding that Israel was the conquering side, not only broke off their alliance with the Ammonites and would help them no more (Ch1 19:19), but made peace with David and became his servants. Let those who have in vain stood it out against God be thus wise for themselves, and agree with him quickly, while they are in the way. Let them become his servants; for they cannot but see themselves undone if they be his enemies.

Verse 3

are not his servants come unto thee for to search?—that is, thy capital, Rabbah (Sa2 10:3).

Verse 4

shaved them—not completely, but only the half of their face. This disrespect to the beard, and indecent exposure of their persons by their clothes being cut off from the girdle downwards, was the grossest indignity to which Jews, in common with all Orientals, could be subjected. No wonder that the men were ashamed to appear in public—that the king recommended them to remain in seclusion on the border till the mark of their disgrace had disappeared—and then they might, with propriety, return to the court.

Verse 6

JOAB AND ABISHAI OVERCOME THE AMMONITES. (Ch1 19:6-15)

when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David—One universal feeling of indignation was roused throughout Israel, and all classes supported the king in his determination to avenge this unprovoked insult on the Hebrew nation.

Hanun . . . sent a thousand talents of silver—a sum equal to £342,100, to procure the services of foreign mercenaries.

chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia . . . Syria-maachah, and . . . Zobah—The Mesopotamian troops did not arrive during this campaign (Ch1 19:16). Syria-maachah lay on the north of the possessions of the trans-jordanic Israelites, near Gilead.

Zobah—(see on Ch1 18:3).

Verse 7

So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots—Hebrew, "riders," or "cavalry," accustomed to fight either on horseback or in chariots, and occasionally on foot. Accepting this as the true rendering, the number of hired auxiliaries mentioned in this passage agrees exactly with the statement in Sa2 10:6 : twenty thousand (from Syria), twelve thousand (from Tob), equal to thirty-two thousand, and one thousand with the king of Maachah.

Verse 8

David . . . sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men—All the forces of Israel, including the great military orders, were engaged in this war.

Verse 9

children of Ammon . . . put the battle in array before the gate of the city—that is, outside the walls of Medeba, a frontier town on the Arnon.

the kings that were come were by themselves in the field—The Israelitish army being thus beset by the Ammonites in front, and by the Syrian auxiliaries behind, Joab resolved to attack the latter (the more numerous and formidable host), while he directed his brother Abishai, with a suitable detachment, to attack the Ammonites. Joab's address before the engagement displays the faith and piety that became a commander of the Hebrew people. The mercenaries being defeated, the courage of the Ammonites failed; so that, taking flight, they entrenched themselves within the fortified walls.

Verse 16

SHOPHACH SLAIN BY DAVID. (Ch1 19:16-19)

And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel—(See on Sa2 10:15-19).

Verse 18

David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men—(Compare Sa2 10:18, which has seven hundred chariots). Either the text in one of the books is corrupt [KEIL, DAVIDSON], or the accounts must be combined, giving this result—seven thousand horsemen, seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen [KENNICOTT, HOUBIGANT, CALMET].

Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 20