II Samuel 10:1-2- And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
The king, Nahash, had died and David wanted to show some kindness to his son. So, David sent some men to show that he was sorry for the young man's loss. But, the rulers of the children of Ammon thought that something else was going on.
II Samuel 10:3-And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
THe princes thought that David had sent these men on a reconnaissance mission to gather intel so that David could attack them.
II Samuel 10:4- Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
The new king took the men and shaved half of their faces and cut up their clothes and sent them away in shame.
I Chronicles 19:5- Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
David heard about it and told the men to stay in a different city until their beards grew back so that they wouldn't be mocked.
I Chronicles 19:6-7- And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
II Samuel 10:7- And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
The children of Ammon hired a massive army to prepare for war. David told Joab that it was time to gather the Israelite army and go fight the children of Ammon. It seemed like David was always on the brink of war!
I Chronicles 19:9-13- And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
General Joab saw that the opposing army was very large. In fact, they split into two smaller armies and were attacking the Israelite army from two different sides! Joab split his army as well; he led one part while his brother, Abishai, led the other. Their plan was to fight as best they could, but help the other out if the need arose.
I Chronicles 19:14-15- So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
The enemy army started to fight, but one part was losing and so they decided to leave. The other part saw their retreat and they also started to run away. They ran into their city to hide.
The Israelite army went back to their capitol city of Jerusalem.
But, the Syrians weren't finished fighting. They retreated to their city, but then called for reinforcements.
II Samuel 10:15-17- And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
David gathered his army and any other Israelites that could fight and went to try to finish this war once and for all!
I Chronicles 19:17b-19- So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.
II Samuel 10:19= And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
With God's help, David's army destroyed the Syrian army. The remaining kings who commanded the armies made peace with David. They promised to be his servants if he would let them live. David consented to those terms, and the war with the Syrians ended.
