David’s Messengers Disgraced
After Nahash dies, David sends servants to comfort Hanun, but Ammonite princes cast the visit as espionage. Hanun shames the envoys, and David quietly provides for their dignity until they can return.
S1ome time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. 2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” 3So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. 5When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
Once the Ammonites realize they have provoked David, they hire Aramean forces and arrange themselves for war. David answers by sending Joab and the army, and the opposing lines take shape.
6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob. 7On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. 8The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.