2 Samuel 10:1

David’s Messengers Disgraced

1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. ¹

2 Samuel 10:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:1

And it came to pass after this
After the wars with the Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, being friendly with the children of Ammon, David sent an embassy to their king, after related; by which it appears what is said concerning the spoils of the children of Ammon, ( 2 Samuel 8:12 ) , is by anticipation; for these spoils were not taken until the following war with them, the occasion of which is here told:

that the king of the children of Ammon died;
whose name was Nahash, as is clear from ( 2 Samuel 10:2 ) , and probably might be the same that came against Jabeshgilead, from whom Saul delivered the inhabitants of that place, ( 1 Samuel 11:1 ) ;

and Hanun his son reigned in his stead;
who, being his son, was heir to his crown, and succeeded him in his kingdom.

2 Samuel 10:1 In-Context

1 Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.

2 And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3 the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4 So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

Cross References

• 1. (1 Chronicles 19:1–9)