Verse 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.

David sent — There had hitherto been friendship between David and him: and therefore the spoils of the children of Ammon are mentioned, chap8:12, by way of anticipation, and with respect to the story here following.

Verse 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.

Shaved — To fasten this is a reproach upon them, and to make them ridiculous and contemptible.

Cut off, … — This was worse than the former, because the Israelites wore no breeches, and so their nakedness was hereby uncovered.

Verse 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.

And served them — And thus at length was fulfilled the promise made to Abraham, and repeated to Joshua, that the borders of Israel should extend as far as the river Euphrates. The son of David sent his ambassadors, his apostles and ministers, to the Jewish church and nation. But they intreated them shamefully, as Hanun did David's, mocked them, abused them, slew them. And this it was that filled the measure of their iniquity, and brought upon them ruin without remedy.