8. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate; and the Syrians of Zobah, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians;
10. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.
11. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.
12. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God; and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.
13. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians; and they fled before him.
14. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
16. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river; and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
18. And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
19. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.
Golden Text: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Ps. 27:1.
Note.—Chapters 8 and 10 may be read in connection with the lesson. It is not wise in the teaching of children, especially, to dwell at any length upon the slaughtering of armies; for with man’s liability to err, not understanding all the reasons why this or that was permitted, and the possibility of his speaking indiscreetly, not seeing the end from the beginning, it is safer to dwell upon the results attained than upon the actions by which those results are brought about, trusting in the wisdom and justice of Him who seeth all things. Psalms 18 and 60 throw light on the motives and experiences of David during the times here referred to. Study also Eph. 6: 10–18, making the application to the battles of life.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) At about what date in the history of the world did the events of this lesson occur? (2) What caused this war with the Ammonites? Note 1. (3) How were the troops arranged who were marshaled against the Israelites? Verse 8. Note 2. (4) In what perilous position did this place the army of Israel? (5) What preparation did Joab make to meet the emergency? Verses 9, 10. Note 3. (6) What provision did Joab make to prevent the defeat of the army? Verse 11. (7) What did Joab state as the object of their fighting? First part of verse 12. Note 4. (8) How did Joab show his faith and trust in God? Last clause of verse 12. (9) What was the result of Joab’s charge upon the Syrians? Verse 13. (10) What effect did this have upon the Ammonites? Verse 14. Note 5. (11) What did the Syrians do after their repulse at the hands of Israel? Verse 15. (12) What action did Hadarezer take? Verse 16. Note 6. (13) What did David do when he learned of this action? Verse 17. (14) State the good results which followed Israel’s victory over Hadarezer and his allies. Verse 19. Note 7.
Notes.
1. This war between Ammon and Israel was occasioned by jealousy on the part of Hanun, the newly crowned king of the Ammonites. He had just ascended the throne, and it would seem that the first taste of kingly power had filled him with vanity and conceit, so that he took advantage of the first opportunity of showing his disregard for the power of neighboring kings, and heaped a most stinging insult upon the envoys of King David. It seems that David did not consider even this a sufficient cause for war, and made preparations for it only when the preservation of his nation demanded it. See first seven verses of chapter 10.
2. At the entering in of the gate.—The arrangement of the forces shows well the character of the Ammonites. They had shown themselves treacherous in the treatment of David’s envoys; now they show their cowardice in taking up a position at the entering in of their gate (which would enable them to find ready refuge within the walls), while their allies were placed in the open field to bear the brunt of the battle.
3. Against him before and behind.—The Israelites were to have been attacked in front and rear, but the provision made by Joab was a wise one, and one that was used with telling effect in the American civil war. Had Joab attacked the Ammonites with his whole army, the Syrians would have fallen upon his rear and probably driven his army in confusion from the field. The same tactics would have been adopted by the Ammonites if Joab had led his entire force against the Syrians. Joab foresaw this and chose the only safe course.
4. Play the men for our people and for the cities of our God.—If there are objects which render war justifiable, these are such objects. This was not a war of conquest, but a war of defense, even tho it was carried into the enemy’s country. The success of the Ammonites and Syrians meant the subjection of Israel to the rule of idolatrous kings, as well as the wanton slaughter of thousands of the people.
5. Then fled they also.—This is a good illustration of how quickly the wicked and unscrupulous will forsake their cause when they are deserted by those who have been fighting for them.
6. Hadarezer.—Hadarezer was king of Zoba, and had sent 20,000 of his warriors to help the Ammonites. His dominion was northeast of Damascus, between the Orontes and the Euphrates.
7. They made peace with Israel.—The defensive warfare of the Israelites, in the various engagements here recorded, had the result of conquests; for the nations conquered yielded themselves to the rule of the Israelites when the latter were simply fighting for their people and the cities of their God. At the close of this war David was ruling “from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates,” according to the promise made to Abraham, recorded in Gen. 15:18.
