Previously in 2 Samuel, we saw how David kept a promise he made to Jonathan, Saul’s son. Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son, and he was lame in his feet. He was hiding out in Lo Debar, probably trying to avoid being executed for being heir to Saul’s throne. When David found out about him, he brought Mephibosheth to his own house to eat bread at his table continually, and he restored to him all of his grandfather Saul’s land. David then told Ziba, Saul’s servant, that he and his sons and servants should work the land and bring in the harvest for Mephibosheth. Not only was David not wiping out a potential heir to Saul’s throne, he was going above and beyond the call of duty by blessing Mephibosheth in this way. Picking up in chapter 10, we will see another battle highlighted that some believe to be a further expounding of the battle in chapter 8.
Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, died, and his son, Hanun, took the throne. If we recall from 1 Samuel, Nahash had gone to war with the inhabitants of Jabish Gilead (Israelites), and Saul had come to their rescue. Somehow between then and now, Nahash had showed kindness to David, and David wanted to return the favor by sending comforters to Hanun after his father’s death.
When David’s servants came into Ammon, Hanun’s servants were suspicious of them, and accused David of sending them as spies to overthrow the city. So, Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half their beards, cut off their garments at their buttocks, and sent them away. In the eastern culture, a beard was a sign of manhood, so this was a big insult. David chose not to act hastily, but told the men to stay at Jericho until their beards grew back.
The Ammonites, seeing that they had made themselves repulsive to David, hired 20 thousand footmen of the Syrians of Beth Rehob and Zoba, one thousand men from the king of Maacah, and 12 thousand men from Esh-Tob. When David heard of it, he sent Jobb and all the mighty men to go to Ammon. When they got there, the Ammonites had set the battle in the city gate, and the others were in the field.
Joab, seeing that the battle was before and behind him, divided his army into two groups. He picked some of the best soldiers to go with him to fight the Syrians, and left the rest of them with his brother, Abishai. He told him that if the Syrians were too strong for him, then Abishai could come help him, but if the Ammonites were too strong for Abishai, then he would help his brother. It is interesting that Joab did not accept total defeat as an option, but was confident that between the two groups of soldiers they would be victorious. This could be because he knew the potential of his own men, or that he was confident in the Lord’s protection and strength. What he says next makes me believe the latter when he says, “Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” Joab, despite his many faults, was displaying great courage and faith here, and this is what made him the general of David’s mighty men.
When they drew near to the battle, the Syrians fled from before Joab, and the Ammonites followed suit. Joab could have pursued after them, but perhaps thought it better to walk away from the fight. Again, it was David’s goal originally to show Hanun kindness. We should always seek to walk away from a fight if possible, but when it is not possible, then we should seek to win quickly and decisively.
The Syrians, however, were not willing to walk away from the fight. Instead of accepting defeat, they sent for re-enforcements as far as the Euphrates River, and came to Helam to fight. This time David went with the army, and he took all of Israel to fight with the Syrians.
Again, the Syrians fled before David and his men, and David killed 700 charioteers, 40 thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army who died there. When all the kings who served Hadadezer of the Syrians saw that the Syrians were defeated, they made peace with Israel and served them. The Syrians were also afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. This battle left some unfinished business in Rabbah of the Ammonites that David will choose to tackle the following Spring.
To say that we are in a battle today as Christians is an understatement. Truthfully, we are surrounded by evil, trying to swallow us up along with the rest of the culture. Is our tendency to simply retreat and accept defeat, or to be like Joab who put his trust in the Lord and fought anyway? Men, we may have many faults, but we are the generals of our homes, and this requires great courage and faith on our parts. Let us be of good courage, be strong for our families and our communities, and may the Lord do what is good in His sight.
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