2 Samuel 10:6

6 When the children of `Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of `Ammon sent and hired the Aram of Beit-Rechov, and the Aram of Tzovah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Ma`akhah with one thousand men, and the men of Tov twelve thousand men.

2 Samuel 10:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:6

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
David
Or had made themselves odious to him, as it is rendered in ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 ) ; were abominable to him, that he was incensed against them, and enraged at them, and was determined to be avenged on them for the affront given, of which they had certain information: but instead of seeking to appease him, and give him satisfaction for the affront,

the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob;
a place near Hamath, ( Numbers 13:21 ) ; there was a city of this name in the tribe of Asher, out of which the Canaanites could not be driven, and perhaps now inhabited by Syrians, or by a people so called, ( Joshua 19:28 ) ( Judges 1:31 ) ;

and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen:
that is, out of both places; this place Hadadezer was king of, with whom David had fought before, and beat, and who owed him a grudge on that account, and was ready to assist the Ammonites against him, ( 2 Samuel 8:3-5 ) ,

and of King Maacah a thousand men;
that is, of the king of Maacah, which was a place in the tribe off Manasseh, from whence the inhabitants could not be expelled, ( Joshua 13:11 Joshua 13:13 ) ; and seems now to have been inhabited by Syrians, and therefore is called Syriamaachah, ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 ) ;

and of Ishtob twelve thousand men;
which is thought to be the same with the land of Tob, whither Jephthah fled, and dwelt in it, when ill used by his brethren, ( Judges 11:3 Judges 11:5 ) ; these mercenary soldiers were in all thirty three thousand men; ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 1 Chronicles 19:7 ) , it is said, chariots and horsemen, even thirty two thousand; these were hired with a thousand talents of silver.

2 Samuel 10:6 In-Context

4 So Hanun 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.

5 When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Yericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

6 When the children of `Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of `Ammon sent and hired the Aram of Beit-Rechov, and the Aram of Tzovah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Ma`akhah with one thousand men, and the men of Tov twelve thousand men.

7 When David heard of it, he sent Yo'av, and all the host of the mighty men.

8 The children of `Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Aram of Tzovah and of Rechov, and the men of Tov and Ma`akhah, were by themselves in the field.