2 Samuel 10 Study Notes
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10:10 Joab’s brother Abishai, another seasoned warrior (2:24; 1Sm 26:6-11), led the second group against the Ammonites. Nonetheless, such a strategy was risky.
10:11-12 Joab knew that if Israel lost this battle, Ammon and Aram might overrun Israel’s territory and cities. He challenged Abishai to be strong and asked for the Lord’s will to be done (lit “May the Lord do what is good in his eyes”).
10:13 The Arameans fled before the Israelite army in defeat (1Sm 4:17; 31:1).
10:14 The Ammonites knew any hope of victory over Israel was gone when the Arameans fled. They entered the city of Rabbah (their capital) to defend it from siege. Joab withdrew, content for now to return to Jerusalem.
10:15 The Arameans probably feared an Israelite reprisal, so they regrouped.
10:16 Hadadezer, whom David had earlier subdued (8:3-4), gathered the Arameans even from the distant city-states across the Euphrates River. They gathered at Helam about thirty miles east of the Sea of Galilee.
10:17 David could not ignore this second threat, so he crossed the Jordan River to face them. He wanted to keep the battle outside Israelite territory as much as possible.
10:18 Again the Arameans fled before Israel (see v. 13). The extent of the victory is indicated by the comment that David struck down Shobach commander of their army.
10:19 Israel’s enemies realized the battle was lost, and they negotiated terms of peace with Israel—terms that probably included paying greater tribute to David than they had before.