2 Samuel 10
The king of the Ammonites one of Israel's neighbours, a guy called Nahash has died and his son Hanun has succeeded him as king.
David and Nahash had been on good terms, so on hearing the news, David sent envoys to Hanun to offer his sympathy for the death of his father and to wish him well as king. The Ammonite commanders told Hanun that David was not really offering sympathy but rather spying the land ready for invasion.
So Hanun took the envoys, shaved half thier beards, cut their clothing to reveal their buttocks and sent them away, a really good way to make yourself unpopular!
When David heard this he told the men to stay in Jericho until their appearance was back to normal and they would avoid the worst of the humiliation.
The Ammonites, realising that they had burned some bridges as it were, decide that they need help and they hire 20,000 foot soldiers from the Aramean town of Beth Rehob and Zobah, the king of the Aramean town of Maakah and 1000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob - so their army strengthened by 33,000 mercenaries the Ammonites thought they were ready.
David meanwhile had sent Joab, his army commander to battle - the Ammonites and the Arameans formed separate battle lines both sides of the army of Joab and Israel ready to crush them in a pincer movement.
Joab gave half the army into the command of his brother Abishai.
Abishai attacked the Ammonites while Joab attacked the Arameans and each kept an eye on the other so that they could come to the rescue if things went wrong.
The Arameans fled before the attack of Joab, perhaps with their strategic advantage they expected Israel to dig in and go on the defensive rather than attack?
On seeing the Arameans run away (like brave Sir Robin from Monty Python) the Ammonites retreat back into their city.
Joab, having routed the enemy returned to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile the Arameans did not like to be routed and they came back with serious reinforcements and led by the war chief of the Arameans, Shobak.
When David heard he mustered all the fighting men in Israel and went to meet this force at a place called Helam.
The Israelites were again successful and routed the Arameans again killing about 1000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers as well as Shobak the commander of the army.
When the Vassal kings of the Arameans realised they had been defeated again they grew afraid and made peace with Israel, and they were too afraid to come to the aid of the Ammonites again.
David appears to be a king of invests confidence in his ministers, but when the occasion requires it he will actually take charge.
All in all it seems a bit of a waste considering what triggered this conflict!
The king of the Ammonites one of Israel's neighbours, a guy called Nahash has died and his son Hanun has succeeded him as king.
David and Nahash had been on good terms, so on hearing the news, David sent envoys to Hanun to offer his sympathy for the death of his father and to wish him well as king. The Ammonite commanders told Hanun that David was not really offering sympathy but rather spying the land ready for invasion.
So Hanun took the envoys, shaved half thier beards, cut their clothing to reveal their buttocks and sent them away, a really good way to make yourself unpopular!
When David heard this he told the men to stay in Jericho until their appearance was back to normal and they would avoid the worst of the humiliation.
The Ammonites, realising that they had burned some bridges as it were, decide that they need help and they hire 20,000 foot soldiers from the Aramean town of Beth Rehob and Zobah, the king of the Aramean town of Maakah and 1000 men, and 12,000 men from Tob - so their army strengthened by 33,000 mercenaries the Ammonites thought they were ready.
David meanwhile had sent Joab, his army commander to battle - the Ammonites and the Arameans formed separate battle lines both sides of the army of Joab and Israel ready to crush them in a pincer movement.
Joab gave half the army into the command of his brother Abishai.
Abishai attacked the Ammonites while Joab attacked the Arameans and each kept an eye on the other so that they could come to the rescue if things went wrong.
The Arameans fled before the attack of Joab, perhaps with their strategic advantage they expected Israel to dig in and go on the defensive rather than attack?
On seeing the Arameans run away (like brave Sir Robin from Monty Python) the Ammonites retreat back into their city.
Joab, having routed the enemy returned to Jerusalem.
Meanwhile the Arameans did not like to be routed and they came back with serious reinforcements and led by the war chief of the Arameans, Shobak.
When David heard he mustered all the fighting men in Israel and went to meet this force at a place called Helam.
The Israelites were again successful and routed the Arameans again killing about 1000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers as well as Shobak the commander of the army.
When the Vassal kings of the Arameans realised they had been defeated again they grew afraid and made peace with Israel, and they were too afraid to come to the aid of the Ammonites again.
David appears to be a king of invests confidence in his ministers, but when the occasion requires it he will actually take charge.
All in all it seems a bit of a waste considering what triggered this conflict!
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