INTRODUCTION: This lesson has several important practical lessons for the student. It demonstrates the sin of rewarding evil to someone who has done good to you. This is a recurring theme in the Bible and should be taught: do good to those who have done good to you. Another lesson is found in David’s allowing his servants to tarry at Jerusalem until their beards had grown. We should try to avoid shaming people publicly.

One more lesson can be found in Joab’s response to a very hard battle situation. He encourages Abishai to be of good courage and play the man. We also need to fight the battle of this life with courage and complete trust in the work that the Lord will do for us. See what other lessons you can find in this chapter of the Bible.

1. HANUN MISTREATS DAVID’S SERVANTS (2 Samuel 10:1-5 [1] And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. [2] Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. [3] And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? [4] Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. [5] When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
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1. The Death of Nahash, King of Ammon (2 Samuel 10:1And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
   See All...; 1 Chronicles 19:1Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.
   See All...)
1. Nahash, the king of Ammon, dies.
2. Hanun, his son, reigns in his stead.
3. The descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Genesis 19:38And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
   See All...), who inhabited the country east of the Jordan River and north of Moab
2. The Servants of David Come to Comfort Hanun (2 Samuel 10:2Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
   See All...).
1. David desires to return the kindness of Nahash. Note: This is likely the same Nahash that was an enemy to Israel in the days of Saul. It is not certain what kindness was showed to David, but it may have occurred in the time in which David was running from Saul.
2. David sends servants to Hanun to comfort him.
3. NOTE: David’s motives were totally honorable and pure in this action. This is what made the mistreatment of his servants so evil. They rewarded evil for good (Genesis 44:4And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
   See All...; 1 Samuel 25:21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
   See All...; Psalm 35:12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
   See All...; Psalm 109:5And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
   See All...; Proverbs 17:13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
   See All...; Jeremiah 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
   See All...).
3. The Mistreatment of David’s Servants by Hanun (2 Samuel 10:3-4 [3] And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? [4] Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
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1. The princes of Ammon accuse David of sending spies (2 Samuel 10:3And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
   See All...). Note: This accusation was not accomplished with direct statements, but with questions that raised doubts in the heart of Hanun. This is much the same as the Devil works in the hearts of believers today.
2. Hanun shames the servants of David (2 Samuel 10:4Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
   See All...).
1. He shaves off one half of their beards. Note: Israelite men wore beards (Leviticus 19:27Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
   See All...). The fact that they were allowed to tarry in Jericho until their beards could grow back shows it was a shameful thing not to have a beard (Isaiah 15:2He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.
   See All...). Otherwise, they would have just shaved the other side and come home. We do not have to obey this custom today, but we should not condemn anyone because they have a beard.
2. He cuts off their garments in the middle.
3. He sends them away.
4. The Delay of David’s Servants at Jericho (2 Samuel 10:5When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
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1. David’s servants are greatly ashamed.
2. David sends men to meet them.
3. David tells them to tarry at Jericho until their beards are grown.
2. JOAB FIGHTS AMMON AND SYRIA (2 Samuel 10:6-14 [6] And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men. [7] And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. [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 Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, 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.
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1. The Ammonites and Syrians Raise an Army (2 Samuel 10:6And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
   See All...).
1. The Ammonites see that they stank before David.
2. The Ammonites hire the Syrians as allies.
3. The Syrians send 33,000 men.
2. The Armies Position Themselves for the Battle (2 Samuel 10:7-8 [7] And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. [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 Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
   See All...).
1. David sends Joab and the host of mighty men (2 Samuel 10:7And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
   See All...); NOTE: David does not go to battle at this time. This is a practice that will get him in trouble in the next chapter.
2. The Ammonites take position at the entering in of the gate (2 Samuel 10:8And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
   See All...).
3. The Syrians take position in the field (2 Samuel 10:8And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
   See All...).
3. Joab Splits His Forces to Fight on Two Fronts (2 Samuel 10:9-10 [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.
   See All...).
1. Joab must fight on two fronts at the same time (2 Samuel 10:9When 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:
   See All...).
2. Joab takes the choice men of Israel against the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:9When 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:
   See All...).
3. Abishai takes the remaining army against the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:10And 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.
   See All...).
4. Joab Sets His Strategy for the Battle (2 Samuel 10:11And 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.
   See All...).
1. If Joab falters, Abishai is to help him.
2. If Abishai falters, Joab is to help him.
3. NOTE: No provision is made for defeat.
5. Joab Builds the Courage of Abishai (2 Samuel 10:12Be 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.
   See All...).
1. Be of good courage
2. Let us play the men (compare 1 Chronicles 19:13Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
   See All... – “behave ourselves valiantly”).
1. For our people
2. For the cities of our God
3. The LORD do that which seemeth him good; in other words, we will leave the results in the hands of the Lord.
6. Joab and Abishai Win the Battle (2 Samuel 10:13-14 [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.
   See All...).
1. The Syrians flee before Joab (2 Samuel 10:13And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
   See All...).
2. The Ammonites flee before Abishai (2 Samuel 10:14And 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.
   See All...).
1. When they see the Syrians flee
2. They enter into the city.
3. Joab returns to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 10:14And 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.
   See All...).
3. DAVID DEFEATS THE SYRIANS (2 Samuel 10:15-19 [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.
   See All...)
1. The Syrians Regroup for Another Battle (2 Samuel 10:15-16 [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.
   See All...).
1. The Syrians gather themselves together (2 Samuel 10:15And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.
   See All...).
2. The Syrians call in reinforcements (2 Samuel 10:16And 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.
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2. David Gathers an Army against the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:17And 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.
   See All...).
1. David gathers all Israel together.
2. David and his army pass over the Jordan.
3. The Syrians fight against David’s army.
3. David’s Army Defeats the Syrians (2 Samuel 10:18And 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.
   See All...).
1. The Syrians flee from before David.
2. David smites the Syrians.
1. The men of 700 chariots
2. 40,000 horsemen
3. Shobach, the captain of the Syrian army
4. The Servants of Hadarezer Make Peace with David (2 Samuel 10:19And 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.
   See All...).
1. The servants of Hadarezer serve David.
2. The Syrians fear to help Ammon.

CONCLUSION: The kindness of David leads to war. Sometimes bad things happen because we are doing the right things.