LESSON 10: ISRAEL’s CONFLICT WITH AMMON
AND THE CONQUEST OF THE PHILISTINES (1 CHR. 19-20)
Here is a
man that not only showed kindness to those who were under him, but also to
those (regardless of the generation) of the offspring of the one who had shown
him kindness. Seemingly, David honored those who had honored him, and here he
sends his messengers to comfort Hanun who had lost his father. Is it not true
that we need to practice the practical principles of Christianity, and to all
men? Comforting those who are in need, suffering from some personal loss, is
seemingly, today, a challenge to a person's spirit and Christianity. God is the
"God of all comfort" and we, his sons and daughters, ought to be the
embodiment and personification, of the same (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-8).[1]
We have no
reason to question David’s motives, but Hanun’s counselors suspected that
David’s men came as spies. Because of David’s conquests, the Ammonites knew
that they would have to challenge Israel if they maintained their territory.
Hanun accepted his counselors’ advice and used this occasion to show Ammon’s
disdain for Israel. A servant was not permitted to grow a beard. David’s
representatives were shaved. The ambassadors were further humiliated in that
their robes were cut off so as to expose the men’s secret parts. Then they were
sent on their way and were made a public spectacle. When David learned what had
happened, he advised his representatives to stay at Jericho until their beards
were grown. Then they would most likely return to Jerusalem.[2]
How had
David acted in a case much like this? See 12:1, 16f.
David's
servants were treated in the most shameful way, but as a true and considerate
master he showed them proper concern. Therefore, once again we see in God's
servant, David, the mark of Him to come whose throne and kingdom would be
forever. In fact, he did not wait for them to come to him; when he heard how
they were treated, "he sent to meet them" (1 Chr. 19:5).[3]
Odious: arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : hateful[4]
Hanun’s
people did not suppose that by their own power they could contest Israel’s
claim to their territory. They hurriedly made arrangements to call for help of
mercenaries. Mesopotamia was the territory in the vicinity of Haran between the
Euphrates and the Tigris rivers. Aram-maacah was a region in the vicinity of
Mt. Hermon. Zobah lay in the district beyond Damascus. Out of these places soldiers
were brought in. The Ammonites paid a very high price for their services (1000
talents of silver, or perhaps as much as $334,000,000 in 2010). In addition to
these great armies there were thirty two thousand chariots. This powerful
expeditionary force set itself in battle order at Medeba. Medeba lay about
twenty miles south-west of Rabbah, the capitol city of the Ammonites. With the
mercenaries on the scene, the Ammonites organized their own forces and the
combined armies presented a very serious threat to David and Israel. At this
juncture David ordered Joab, the captain of his host, to call the army of
Israel for the conflict.[5]
Joab was a
man of keen insight. Not only was he able to recognize the seriousness of the
situation (1 Chr. 19:10), and knowing he could not double his strength, he did
the only other thing. Joab doubled his resolution, divided the army, behaved
like a man who was a man of steel ("... let us behave ourselves valiantly
...") and then left it all in the hands of God. Note that he did not ask
for victory. After doing his best, he made the battle one between the Ammonites
and God.
Joab asked
for "mutual assistance" (1) for our people, and (2) for the cities of
our God. Evidently, here was a man who had his eye on "the glory of and
for God," as well as for his own country. God's people today need to learn
that right will prevail, even though the clouds get dark, the days long, the
odds seem to be against us, and there seems to be no end in sight.
The end
result was (1) Israel was victorious, (2) the Syrians made peace with David,
(3) they became his servants, and (4) they served the children of Ammon no
more. However, this is not all, as God received the honor due Him, for, in
reality, it was a battle fought and won for His righteous (ultimate) cause.
When we devise the best of plans, use the best of all means, and do all we can,
then we can leave it up to God, and say, "It is well, it is well with my
soul."
Joab, the
commander of the army of Israel, teaches us some of the most important lessons
of this chapter. They are found in the following verses: (1) "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" (1 Chr. 19:12). (2)
"Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the
cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good" (1 Chr.
19:13).[6]
We should
think like this as encouraged by Galatians 6:2 and James 4:7.
David
understood that in order to take advantage of this initial success he would
need to maintain pressure on the enemy. Shopach (Shobach) came on the scene as
the captain of the Syrians who were beyond the River (the Euphrates). The
mercenaries who had been turned back by Joab sent runners to their allies in Mesopotamia
requesting help. The enemy regrouped. In the meantime, David personally led the
Hebrew army to war with the Syrians. Somewhere beyond the Jordan River,
probably in northeastern Palestine, the battle was joined. Forty thousand enemy
soldiers fell. The captain, Shopach, was killed, Seven thousand warriors who
drove chariots were put to death. Those who remained surrendered. Never again
were the Ammonites able to secure aid from the Syrians. Through these events David
annexed the territory of Ammon, consolidated his holdings in Syria, and laid
undisputed claim on lands reaching all the way to the Euphrates River.[7]
CHAPTER 20
While the
Syrians and their allies had been vanquished, the Ammonites had taken refuge
behind the walls of Rabbah, their main city. Chapter twenty, verses 1-3,
describes the completion of the conquest of Ammon. At this time the Ammonites
finally paid the price for humiliating David’s ambassadors and for challenging
Israel to war. By the time David’s army had won the conflict with the Syrians,
the winter season was rapidly approaching. David returned to Jerusalem and the
rest of his army would take up winter quarters in appointed places. The winter
passed. When spring came, Joab was sent to tighten the siege at Rabbah and maintain
it until the city fell.[8]
In the
meantime David “tarried at Jerusalem” (verse 1). At this point in the Book of 2
Samuel two chapters (eleven and twelve) are given to the account of David’s sin
with Bathsheba.[9]
It is a
matter (of curious interest that the chronicler omits this incident in David’s
life. David’s sin could not be hidden. Perhaps the historian was permitted by
the Holy Spirit to omit this painful account because it was fully treated in
the record in 2 Samuel. Here in the Book of Chronicles David moves from one
victory to another. This Bathsheba affair would certainly break the continuity
of this account.
While
these things were taking place in Jerusalem, Joab was doing his work well at
Rabbah. One day the Ammonites reached their extremity. An urgent message came
to David. He must hurry to Rabbah if the city is to fall to him. Otherwise, it
will fall to Joab. Hanun, king of Ammon, had a great crown which was symbolic
of his office. It was composed of a talent of gold. The value of the gold talent
may be estimated at $5.35 million in 2010 dollars. The crown probably weighed
about one hundred pounds. It may well have adorned the head of the Ammonites’
chief god, Molech. The crown was decorated with precious stones. Strong men
would hold this crown over David’s head. The spoil of the city was laid at his
feet. The Ammonites in Rabbah became prisoners of war, many of whom were
mercilessly mutilated by David and his warriors. This was regarded as divine
retribution for the antagonistic actions and military rebellion of these
descendants of Lot.[10]
The
paragraph in verses four through eight reminds the Bible student of the
parallel section in 2 Samuel 21:18-22. The historian simply recalls some
matters both courageous and curious in connection with Israel’s military
engagements. The record here says that Elhanan slew Lahmi the brother of
Goliath the Gittite. The reference to these men of giant stature proves
information concerning this remnant of the Anakim (long necked men) among the
Philistines. An ordinary man would not have been able to handle the giant’s
spear. “The weaver’s beam” refers to a wooden bar about ten inches in
circumference used to anchor the threads on a loom. Among the oddities Israel
encountered was the giant who had six digits on each hand and foot, Even so, he
was not equal to the warrior in David’s ranks who cut him down in Gath.
Jonathan, David’s nephew, took up the challenge on this later occasion.[11]
[1]
Ibid.
[2] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[3] Goebel
Music. “Times of Glory and Shame for David” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish,
Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[4]
“Odious.” Merriam-Webster.
[5] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[6] Goebel
Music. “Times of Glory and Shame for David” in Studies in 1, 2 Kings and 1, 2 Chronicles. Ed. By Dub McClish,
Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1993.
[7]
Ibid.
[8] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[9] Spence, H. D. M., The Pulpit Commentary, I
Chronicles, p. 316.
[10] Robert E.
Black. The Books of Chronicles in
Bible Study Textbook Series. Joplin, MO: College Press, 1991.
[11]
Ibid.
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