2 Samuel 10:6

6 And the sons of Ammon saw, that they had done wrong to David, and they sent, and hired with meed of Bethrehob of Syria, and of Zoba of Syria, twenty thousand of footmen, and of king Maacah, a thousand men, and of Ishtob, twelve thousand of men. (And the Ammonites saw that they had wronged David, and so they sent for, and hired for pay, Syrians from Bethrehob and from Zoba, yea, twenty thousand footmen, and a thousand men from King Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.)

2 Samuel 10:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 10:6

And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before
David
Or had made themselves odious to him, as it is rendered in ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 ) ; were abominable to him, that he was incensed against them, and enraged at them, and was determined to be avenged on them for the affront given, of which they had certain information: but instead of seeking to appease him, and give him satisfaction for the affront,

the children of Ammon sent, and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob;
a place near Hamath, ( Numbers 13:21 ) ; there was a city of this name in the tribe of Asher, out of which the Canaanites could not be driven, and perhaps now inhabited by Syrians, or by a people so called, ( Joshua 19:28 ) ( Judges 1:31 ) ;

and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen:
that is, out of both places; this place Hadadezer was king of, with whom David had fought before, and beat, and who owed him a grudge on that account, and was ready to assist the Ammonites against him, ( 2 Samuel 8:3-5 ) ,

and of King Maacah a thousand men;
that is, of the king of Maacah, which was a place in the tribe off Manasseh, from whence the inhabitants could not be expelled, ( Joshua 13:11 Joshua 13:13 ) ; and seems now to have been inhabited by Syrians, and therefore is called Syriamaachah, ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 ) ;

and of Ishtob twelve thousand men;
which is thought to be the same with the land of Tob, whither Jephthah fled, and dwelt in it, when ill used by his brethren, ( Judges 11:3 Judges 11:5 ) ; these mercenary soldiers were in all thirty three thousand men; ( 1 Chronicles 19:6 1 Chronicles 19:7 ) , it is said, chariots and horsemen, even thirty two thousand; these were hired with a thousand talents of silver.

2 Samuel 10:6 In-Context

4 Therefore Hanun took the servants of David, and shaved half the part of the beard of them, and he cutted away the middle clothes of them, till to the buttocks; and let go them. (And so Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off half of their beards, and cut away half of their clothes, unto the buttocks, and then let them go.)

5 And when this was told to David, he sent into the coming of them, for the men were shamed full vilely (And when this was told to David, he sent men to meet them, for these men had been vilely shamed). And David commanded to them, (and said,) Dwell ye in Jericho, till your beard (hath) waxed, and then turn ye again.

6 And the sons of Ammon saw, that they had done wrong to David, and they sent, and hired with meed of Bethrehob of Syria, and of Zoba of Syria, twenty thousand of footmen, and of king Maacah, a thousand men, and of Ishtob, twelve thousand of men. (And the Ammonites saw that they had wronged David, and so they sent for, and hired for pay, Syrians from Bethrehob and from Zoba, yea, twenty thousand footmen, and a thousand men from King Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Tob.)

7 And when David had heard this, he sent (out) Joab, and all the host of fighters (and all his army of fighting men).

8 Therefore the sons of Ammon went out, and dressed battle array before them in the entering of the gate. And Zoba, and Rehob of Syria, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were asides half in the field. (And so the Ammonites went out, and dressed the battle array before them at the entrance to the city gate. And the Syrians from Zoba and from Rehob, and the men from Tob, and from Maacah, were asides half in the field.)