2 Samuel 10:13-19

13 So Yo'av and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Aram: and they fled before him.

14 When the children of `Ammon saw that the Aram were fled, they likewise fled before Avishai, and entered into the city. Then Yo'av returned from the children of `Ammon, and came to Yerushalayim.

15 When the Aram saw that they were put to the worse before Yisra'el, they gathered themselves together.

16 Hadad`ezer sent, and brought out the Aram who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shovakh the captain of the host of Hadad`ezer at their head.

17 It was told David; and he gathered all Yisra'el together, and passed over the Yarden, and came to Helam. The Aram set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

18 The Aram fled before Yisra'el; and David killed of the Aram [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shovakh the captain of their host, so that he died there.

19 When all the kings who were servants to Hadad`ezer saw that they were put to the worse before Yisra'el, they made shalom with Yisra'el, and served them. So the Aram feared to help the children of `Ammon any more.

2 Samuel 10:13-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 10

This chapter gives an account of the ill treatment of David's messengers to the king of Ammon, who were sent to condole the death of his father, and were basely used by him, which David resented, 2Sa 10:1-5; which the Ammonites perceiving prepared for war, and got the Syrians to be confederates with them; of which David being informed, sent Joab and Abishai into their country, 2Sa 10:6-8; who divided the army between them, and attacked the Ammonites and Syrians with great courage, and routed them both, and returned to Jerusalem, 2Sa 10:9-14; after which the Syrians gathered together again to fight with David, who went out to meet them, and got an entire conquest over them, and made them servants to him, 2Sa 10:15-19.