“But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land? Thinkest: Heb. In thine eyes doth David, etc”
Land, or city, 2 Kings x. 3. (Calmet) — What evils proceed from evil counsellors!
“Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.”
From. Hebrew, “in the midst, above the thighs:” exposing them to derision. (Haydock)
“And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah , and out of Zobah. odious: Heb. to stink”
Done. Hebrew, “made themselves stinking.” Septuagint, “that the people of David was covered with confusion.” The insult fell on all Israel. — Mesopotamia is not mentioned [in] 2 Kings, as the troops perhaps did not arrive soon enough for the first battle, ver. 16.
“So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.”
Chariots. This number seems excessive, and it may have been put for infantry; the number of which, specified [in] 2 Kings, was 33,000. But the troops of Mesopotamia are not there mentioned, and this supplies what was left defective. (Calmet) — The chariots may signify those who fought upon them, (Menochius) ver. 18., and Isaias xxi. 7. (Tirinus) — Sometimes the whole number is specified; at others only a part.
“And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. river: i.that is, Euphrates Shophach: or, Shobach.2Sam.10.16”
River, in Mesopotamia. Joab did not allow them time to arrive. — Sophach, or Sobac. Adarezer sent also to collect these forces, 2 Kings.
“But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen , and killed Shophach the captain of the host.”
Chariots. Literally, “chariot.” 2 Kings has only 700, and 40,000 horsemen. (Calmet) — Ten men might be in each chariot. (Du Hamel)
“And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.”
Went. Hebrew, “made peace with David.” The many petty kings who had hitherto been tributary to Adarezer, submitted now to the conqueror. (Calmet)