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1 Chronicles 19 — Commentary 4

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Benson

Benson Commentary 1 Chronicles 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. A.M. 2967. — B.C. 1037. David’s friendly message to King Hanun, 1 Chronicles 19:1 , 1 Chronicles 19:2 . Hanun’s base usage of his ambassadors, 1 Chronicles 19:3-5 . The Ammonites prepare for war, 1 Chronicles 19:6 , 1 Chronicles 19:7 . David overthrows them and the Syrians, 1 Chronicles 19:8-19 . 1 Chronicles 19:1 . Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died — Of the contents of this chapter, see the notes on 2 Samuel 10. 1 Chronicles 19:2 . David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun — 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 among whom we live: and difference in the modes and forms of religion, or even in religion itself, must be no obstruction to it. But, besides this, David remembered the kindness which his father had showed him. They that have received kindness should return it as they have ability and opportunity: and they that have received it from the parents, should return it to the children when the parents are gone. 1 Chronicles 19:6 . The children of Ammon saw they had made themselves odious to David — It would therefore have been their wisdom to have desired conditions of peace, to have humbled themselves and offered any satisfaction for the injury they had done him; and the rather, because they had made themselves not only odious to David, but obnoxious to the justice of God, who is the 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 those desolations which David never intended them. 1 Chronicles 19:19 . They made peace with David, and became his servants — Those who have meddled with strife that belonged not to them, and have found that they meddled to their own hurt, do well to learn wisdom at length, and meddle no further. 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 with him. Let them become his servants, for they are undone if they remain his enemies. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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? 1 Chronicles 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 19:5 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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 19:8 And when David heard of it , he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. 1 Chronicles 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 19:16 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. 1 Chronicles 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. Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com . Used by Permission.

Expositors

Expositor's Bible Commentary 1 Chronicles 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. The Expositor's Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com . Used by Permission.

Illustrator

And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. 1 Chronicles 19:1-5 The menage of condolence J. Wolfendale. I. THE GENEROUS MESSAGE OF DAVID. 1. In its accession. 2. In its form. II. THE DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT OF DAVID'S MESSENGERS. Shaving their beards and shortening their garments, a double insult in the East, where long beards and long garments are badges of honour. Many Orientals would rather die than lose their beards (signs of dignity and ornaments of freedom), and Turks used to regard beardless Europeans as runaway slaves. III. THE CONSIDERATE KINDNESS FOR THE DISGRACED MESSENGERS. ( J. Wolfendale. ) Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father Suspicions J. Reid Howatt. Don't be suspicious. Some people think they are very clever in finding out what is wrong where no one else sees anything amiss, and these often make themselves very ridiculous. Tennyson, when a young man, was walking through Wales, on his way back from the Continent, and turned into a little wayside inn, where an old man sat by the fire, and asked many questions in s very suspicious fashion. "Are you from the army? Not from the army? Then where do you come from?" he bluntly asked at last. "I am just come from the Pyrenees," said the poet. "Ah, I knew there was 'a something!'" was the knowing clincher of the old man. Could anything have been more ridiculous? Don't be suspicious; think the best, believe the best, love the best; remember that everybody finds just what he seeks. You will always find "a something" if it is "a something" you are seeking, but you will also always find what is good and beautiful if you are in search of that. ( J. Reid Howatt. ) And when the children of Ammon. 1 Chronicles 19:6-9 Avenging an insult J. Wolfendale. I. INSULT SPRINGING FROM SLIGHT PROVOCATION. 1. From a suspicious mind. 2. From advice of jealous princes. II. INSULT LEADING TO UNJUST WAR. This War might have been avoided by an honourable apology or better understanding. One evil leads to smother. III. WAR TERMINATING IN DISGRACEFUL OVERTHROW. ( J. Wolfendale. ) Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him. 1 Chronicles 19:16-18 The war-cry J. Wolfendale. I. THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY FOUGHT. II. THE METHOD IN WHICH THEY FOUGHT. 1. A wise economy of forces. 2. A determination to render mutual help. III. THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THEY FOUGHT. 1. Of exalted courage. 2. Of true patriotism. 3. Of submission to God. ( J. Wolfendale. )

Matthew Henry

19:1-19 David's wars. - The history is here repeated which we read 2Sa 10. The only safety of sinners consists in submitting to the Lord, seeking peace with him, and becoming his servants. Let us assist each other in a good cause; but let us fear lest, while made instruments of good to others, we should come short of salvation, through unbelief and sin.