For I was ashamed to require of the kings band of
soldiers
and horsemen
Which he might have had, only asking for them; so great was the
interest he had in the king's favour:
to help us against the enemy in the way;
the Arabs, Samaritans, and others, that might lie in wait for
them, to rob them of their substance:
because we had spoken unto the king:
of the special favour of God to them, his singular providence in
the protection of them:
saying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that
seek him;
that pray unto him, serve and worship him; his hand is open to
them to bestow all needful good upon them, temporal and
spiritual, and his power and providence are over them, to protect
and defend them from all evil:
but his power and his wrath is against all them that
forsake him;
his word, his ways and worship; his powerful wrath, or the
strength and force of it, is exerted against them and they are
sure to feel the weight and dreadful effects of it: and now all
this being said to the king, after this, to desire a guard to
protect them, it would look as if they had not that favour in the
sight of God, and did not believe what they had said, but
distrusted his power and providence towards them; therefore,
rather than reflect any dishonour on God, they chose to expose
themselves to danger, seeking his face and favour, and relying on
his goodness and power.