Cornelius a Lapide
Table of Contents
Synopsis of the Chapter
Hanun king of Ammon insults and humiliates David's ambassadors: therefore David attacks him in war, and overthrows him together with the Syrians who aided him.
Vulgate Text: 1 Paralipomenon 19:1-19
1. Now it came to pass that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his place. 2. And David said: I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash; for his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him on the death of his father. And when they had come into the land of the children of Ammon to comfort Hanun, 3. the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun: Do you perhaps think that David sent those to comfort you out of respect for your father, and you do not realize that his servants have come to you to explore, and investigate, and spy out your land? 4. So Hanun shaved David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments from the buttocks to the feet, and sent them away. 5. And when they had gone and reported this to David, he sent to meet them (for they had suffered a great insult) and commanded them to remain in Jericho until their beards had grown back, and then to return. 6. And when the children of Ammon saw that they had wronged David, both Hanun and the rest of the people, they sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, and from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. 7. And they hired thirty-two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah with his people. And when they came, they encamped opposite Medeba. And the children of Ammon also gathered from their cities and came to battle. 8. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of mighty men: 9. and the children of Ammon came out and drew up in battle array at the gate of the city; and the kings who had come to help were stationed separately in the field. 10. So Joab, seeing that the battle was set against him both in front and behind, chose out the bravest men of all Israel, and went against the Syrians. 11. And the rest of the people he placed under the command of Abishai his brother, and they went against the children of Ammon. 12. And he said: If the Syrians overcome me, you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon overcome you, I will help you. 13. Be of good courage, and let us act valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord will do what is good in His sight. 14. So Joab and the people who were with him went against the Syrians to battle; and he put them to flight. 15. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city: and Joab also returned to Jerusalem. 16. And when the Syrians saw that they had fallen before Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river: and Shophach, the commander of the army of Hadadezer, was their leader. 17. And when this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, and crossed the Jordan, and came upon them and drew up his battle line against them, while they fought against him. 18. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians seven thousand charioteers, and forty thousand foot soldiers, and Shophach the commander of the army. 19. And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they deserted to David and served him: and Syria was no longer willing to give aid to the children of Ammon.
Verse 4: He Shaved
4. HE SHAVED. — In Hebrew yegallech, that is, he shaved, namely half the hair of the head and the beard, as is said in 2 Kings 10:4.
Verse 7: They Hired Thirty-Two Thousand Chariots
7. AND THEY HIRED THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND CHARIOTS — that is, of horsemen fighting from scythed chariots. It is a metonymy; for the container is put for the contained, namely the chariot for the charioteer. And in ancient times, individual more powerful soldiers often had their own chariot, just as cavalrymen have their own horse from which they fight: this is clear from verse 10.
Verse 18: David Killed Seven Thousand Charioteers
18. DAVID KILLED OF THE SYRIANS SEVEN THOUSAND CHARIOTEERS — that is, of soldiers fighting from chariots, or perhaps of horses drawing the chariots: for chariots themselves can be burned, but not killed.