2 Samuel 10:1

War with the Ammonites

1 Some time later the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

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 his son Hanun became king in his place.

2 Then David said, "I'll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent his emissaries to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3 the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, "Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he's showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn't David sent his emissaries in order to scout out the city, spy on it, and overthrow it?"

4 So Hanun took David's emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.

5 When this was reported to David, he sent [someone] to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return."