2 Samuel 10

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Israel Defeats the Ammonites and Arameans

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Reception of God’s grace results in blessing.

  2. Rejection of God’s grace results in judgment.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Expect to be insulted!

QUESTIONS

  1. What is David’s history with the Ammonites?

  2. What did David offer the Ammonites in this chapter?

  3. Were the Israelites allowed to make peace treaties?

  4. How did the Ammonites respond to David’s gracious offer of peace?

  5. What was the outcome for the Ammonites and Arameans?

ANSWERS

  1. At the beginning of King Saul’s reign, the men of Jabesh Gilead cried for help, because they were being threatened by the Ammonites. Saul mobilized the Israeli army and they defeated the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11). As a result, the king of Ammon showed kindness to David and his men when they were running as fugitives from King Saul (2 Samuel 10:2).

  2. He offered sympathy and kindness because of their previous kindness to him. In 2 Samuel 8 we learn that Ammon had already been subdued by David and was paying tribute to Israel. So this gesture of kindness seems to be an offer of a peace treaty that would improve the nation’s status and relationship with Israel.

  3. Yes, under the Law in Deuteronomy 20, Israel was allowed to make peace treaties with foreign cities and powers outside the land, if the foreigners were willing to acknowledge Israel’s supremacy.

  4. The new king foolishly listened to his advisors who accused David of sending spies. He also highly insulted David’s ambassadors. Knowing this would incur David’s wrath, the Ammonites hired various groups of Arameans (Syrians) to protect them.

  5. These coalition forces were defeated by the Israelite army under Joab and his brother Abishai. When the Arameans regrouped, David led the battle for the final victory.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Wherever there was a positive response to David’s grace (from Hiram, king of Tyre or Mephibosheth, for example), there followed blessings for that individual or nation. Discuss how David’s gracious offer of peace to the Ammonites is an illustration of God’s gracious offer of salvation in Christ. How has your life been blessed since you accepted God’s grace?

  2. Those who reject God’s offer of grace in Christ will suffer the wrath of God (John 3:36). Have you ever been the recipient of God’s wrath? Was it motivation not to go there again?

CHALLENGE

  1. The Israelite ambassadors suffered hateful rejection from the Ammonites. As servants of the Lord, believers are to bring God’s message of peace to the world. Expect to be insulted.

KEY VERSES

  • “Then David said, ‘I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.’” 2 Samuel 10:2

  • “Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away.” 2 Samuel 10:4

  • “And when all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.” 2 Samuel 10:19

2 Samuel, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 SAMUEL 10