2Sa 10:1-11:1 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Sam 10:1-19: 10:1-19 Following the interlude of ch 9 , the narrative returns to David’s military feats. The Ammonites were likely the dominant political power in Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan) during Saul’s reign and the early years of David’s reign. Summary for 2Sam 10:1-5: 10:1-5 The king of Ammon insulted David’s ambassadors, which led to two battles between Israel and Ammon (10:6–12:31 ). 10:1 Some time after this: King Hadadezer appears in 10:1-19 as David’s active and capable foe (10:16 ), yet in 8:1-18 David had defeated him (8:3 ) and plundered his city (8:7 , 12 ). Either Hadadezer was still alive, had regrouped, and revolted in 10:1-19 ; or possibly 10:1-19 unpacks the events of 8:1-18 as a prelude to 11:1-27 .

Summary for 2Sam 10:1-19: 10:1-19 ^a Following the interlude of ch 9 ^b, the narrative returns to David’s military feats. The Ammonites were likely the dominant political power in Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan) during Saul’s reign and the early years of David’s reign.
Summary for 2Sam 10:1-5: 10:1-5 ^c The king of Ammon insulted David’s ambassadors, which led to two battles between Israel and Ammon (10:6–12:31 ^d). 10:1 ^e Some time after this: King Hadadezer appears in 10:1-19 ^f as David’s active and capable foe (10:16 ^g), yet in 8:1-18 ^h David had defeated him (8:3 ⁱ) and plundered his city (8:7 ^j, 12 ^k). Either Hadadezer was still alive, had regrouped, and revolted in 10:1-19 ^l; or possibly 10:1-19 ^m unpacks the events of 8:1-18 ⁿ as a prelude to 11:1-27 ^o.
10:2 ^p In both chs 9 ^q and 10 ^r, David wanted to show loyalty (khesed; also in 9:1 ^s, 3 ^t).
10:4 ^u Shaving half of each man’s beard was intended to maximize the humiliation and ridicule.

• cut off their robes: The humiliating display of genitalia or the buttocks was associated with military defeat and exile (Isa 20 ^v).
10:5 ^w The city of Jericho had not yet been formally reconstructed (see 1 Kgs 16:34 ^x), but the site was located adjacent to the largest and most plentiful spring in the land, so people continued to dwell in the area. Anyone traveling from Ammon to Jerusalem would pass right by it. It was a place of seclusion from the men’s humiliation.
10:6 ^y Aramean foot soldiers: See 8:5-6 ^z.

• Beth-rehob and Zobah: See 8:3 ^aa, 12 ^ab.

• the land of Tob (literally the man of Tob) possibly refers to a vassal king and region under Hadadezer’s sovereignty.
10:8 ^ac The Israelites had a double battle: against the Ammonites in front of their fortifications at the entrance of the city gate and against the Aramean army in the open fields.
10:12 ^ad Be courageous! Often the priest or another leader offered prebattle exhortations (cp. Num 31:6 ^ae; Deut 20:2 ^af; Judg 4:14 ^ag; 1 Sam 4:4 ^ah; 14:3 ^ai; 23:9 ^aj).
10:16 ^ak Hadadezer: See study note on 10:1.

• Helam is unknown.

• Apparently David had extended his empire as far north as the Euphrates River (see also study note on 8:3).

‏ 2 Samuel 11:1

Summary for 2Sam 11:1-27: 11:1-27 ^al David’s affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah show that David was capable of great failure and cast a dark shadow over David’s life and career. These failures came during a time of great military success against the Ammonites (10:1–11:1 ^am; 12:26-31 ^an). 11:1 ^ao In the spring of the year, the land began to dry out after the heavy winter rains. Kings avoided war during the rainy season.

• David stayed behind either because he was irresponsible in carrying out his royal duties or because he trusted Joab to efficiently handle the Ammonite problem (cp. 10:7 ^ap). This is the first mention of a leader of Israel staying off the battlefield in a time of war.