Chapter 19

1 David’s messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villanously entreated. 6 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai. 16 Shophach, making a new supply of the Syrians, is slain by David.

1. It came to pass. Chapter 19 is parallel to 2 Sam. 10. In Samuel a chapter dealing with David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul (2 Sam. 9), is found after the record of David’s smiting of his enemies (2 Sam. 8). The record of this kindness does not appear anywhere in Chronicles. The present chapter deals with a great coalition of nations that united against David after his kingdom had enjoyed a period of peace.

After this. This same phrase is used in ch. 18:1, and does not necessarily indicate immediate chronological sequence. It is also used in 2 Sam. 10:1, where the event it follows is David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, whereas here it follows the summary of David’s struggles against his enemies. This chapter seems to relate the origin and development of the coalition against David that involved him in wars from Edom to the Euphrates, and that ended in the victories and acquisitions mentioned in ch. 18 (see on ch. 18:11).

4. And shaved them. “One half of their beards” (2 Sam. 10:4).

6. Chariots and horsemen. It was a common practice in the ancient Orient to hire troops (2 Kings 7:6; 2 Chron. 25:6). In this instance the kings of Syria readily responded to the call of Ammon, because they were anxious to curb the rising power of Israel.

Mesopotamia. Heb. ХAram naharayim, literally, “Aram of the two rivers.” This was the region of Padan-aram (see on Gen. 24:10). The parallel passage has Beth-rehob (2 Sam. 10:6).

7. Thirty and two thousand chariots. The numbers here given are in agreement with those of Samuel, which lists 20,000 Syrian footmen and 12,000 men of Tob, a total of 32,000, together with 1,000 men of Maacah (see on 2 Sam. 10:6).

Medeba. A city about 6 mi. south of Heshbon and 12 mi. east of the Dead Sea.

9. The kings. Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maacah (see on 2 Sam. 10:6, 8).

In the field. That is, in the open country or plain of Medeba (see Joshua 13:9, 16), where there was room for chariot and cavalry maneuvers.

10. Against the Syrians. The Syrians with their chariots and cavalry would provide the most formidable threat, so Joab himself went out against them with the picked men of Israel.

12. I will help thee. The two brothers had agreed between themselves that whichever found himself worsted before the enemy would receive the help of the other.

13. Be of good courage. The word of courage is often the source of strength and the secret of victory.

Behave ourselves valiantly. “Play the men” (2 Sam. 10:12). Each before the other was setting forth his determination to do his utmost that victory might be assured. When men face the problems of life with such a spirit, success is far more likely, whatever the odds against them.

For our people. The men of Israel were fighting not only for themselves but for their people and for their God. That put infinitely greater spirit into the struggle in which they were engaged. Israel was fighting for its existence and the honor of Jehovah.

Let the Lord do. The battle in which Israel was engaged was not only man’s but God’s. It was therefore proper that the pious wish be expressed that God would manifest Himself, and that He would cause His own will to prevail. The spirit behind the prayer was, “Thy will be done” (see Matt. 26:39). God’s will was that Israel should be established in the land He had promised them.

14. They fled before him. Not all the chariots of Syria were a match for the hosts of Israel, for what Israel lacked in numbers they made up in valor, and what they lacked in chariots and horses was more than made up by the presence of God.

16. When the Syrians saw. When the proud Syrians realized that they had been defeated by the armies of Israel, they were greatly chagrined and determined to wipe out their shame by another test of arms.

Beyond the river. The Euphrates. There was a tremendous gathering of Aramaean peoples, including not only those in northern Syria west of the Euphrates, but some from east of the river. With such a formidable army the Syrians must have felt reasonably certain of victory.

Hadarezer. This was Hadadezer, the king previously mentioned in ch. 18:3 as king of Zobah, and the struggle there mentioned is probably connected with this summoning of allies from across the Euphrates.

Went before them. According to 2 Sam. 10:16 the Syrians “came to Helam.” Helam is possibly to be identified with ФAlma in the district of Hauran, east of Galilee.

17. David. Obviously because of the threat of the present danger David himself took the field and led his armies across the Jordan to meet the combined hosts of the Syrians and Ammonites.

18. Seven thousand. In 2 Sam. 10:18 the number is given as 700. It is impossible to determine which number is correct. The LXX and the Hebrew agree.

Forty thousand footmen. David gained a tremendous victory. The number of those slain in this engagement was larger than the total forces of the Syrian allies in the previous engagement.

19. Became his servants. This is probably the victory by which David extended his power to the Euphrates (ch. 18:3). The formidable alliance against him had threatened his kingdom with utter destruction. But with the help of the Lord he gained a victory that raised his kingdom to unprecedented greatness. This does not mean that the territory of Israel proper extended to the Euphrates (see The Empire of David and Solomon), but that David’s sphere of influence extended to this region.

Ellen G. White comments

1–19PP 714, 715

1–5PP 714

6, 7, 13–15PP 715