Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 10:7
And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
7. all the host of the mighty men ] Lit. all the host, the mighty men. Elsewhere “the mighty men” appear to be distinguished from the main body of the army as a corps of picked warriors, (see note on ch. 2Sa 15:18); and we should perhaps read all the host, and the mighty men.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This sufficiently indicates the greatness of the danger to Israel from this formidable league of Ammonites and Syrians.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. All the host of the mighty] All his worthies, and the flower of his army.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Choosing wisely to carry the war into their country, rather than to expect it in his own.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when David heard of [it],…. Of the preparation made by the Ammonites to fight with him:
he sent Joab and all the host of the mighty men: he sent out Joab his general, and an army under his command, consisting of men of strength, valour, and courage; or all the host and the mighty men, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, the famous mighty men mentioned in 2Sa 23:8; he did not think it advisable to wait for the Ammonites, but carried the war into their own country, and, instead of suffering them to invade his dominions, he invaded theirs.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When David heard of these preparations and the advance of the Syrians into the land, he sent Joab and his brave army against the foe. ( the mighty men) is in apposition to ( all the host): the whole army, namely the heroes or mighty men, i.e., the brave troops that were well used to war. It is quite arbitrary on the part of Thenius to supply vav before ; for, as Bertheau has observed, as never find a distinction drawn between the gibborim and the whole army.
2Sa 10:8 On the other hand, the Ammonites came out (from the capital, where they had assembled), and put themselves in battle array before the gate. The Syrians were alone on the field, i.e., they had taken up a separate position on the broad treeless table-land (cf. Jos 13:16) by Medeba. Medeba lay about four geographical miles in a straight line to the south-west of Rabbath-Ammon.
2Sa 10:9-11 When Joab saw that “the front of the war was (directed) against him both before and behind,” he selected a picked body out of the Israelitish army, and posted them (the picked men) against the children of Aram (i.e., the Syrians). The rest of the men he gave to his brother Abishai, and stationed them against the Ammonites. “The front of the battle:” i.e., the face or front of the hostile army, when placed in battle array. Joab had this in front and behind, as the Ammonites had taken their stand before Rabbah at the back of the Israelitish army, and the Syrians by Medeba in their front, so that Joab was attacked both before and behind. This compelled him to divide his army. He chose out, i.e., made a selection. Instead of (the picked men in Israel) the Chronicles have (the men in Israel), the singular being more commonly employed than the plural to denote the men of war. The before is not to be regarded as suspicious, although the early translators have not expressed it, and the Masoretes wanted to expunge it. “The choice of Israel” signifies those who were selected in Israel for the war, i.e., the Israelitish soldiers. Joab himself took up his station opposite to the Syrians with a picked body of men, because they were the stronger force of the two. He then made this arrangement with Abishai (2Sa 10:11): “If Aram becomes stronger than I (i.e., overpowers me), come to my help; and if the Ammonites should overpower thee, I will go to help thee.” Consequently the attack was not to be made upon both the armies of the enemy simultaneously; but Joab proposed to attack the Aramaeans (Syrians) first (cf. 2Sa 10:13), and Abishai was merely to keep the Ammonites in check, though there was still a possibility that the two bodies of the enemy might make their attack simultaneously.
2Sa 10:12 “Be firm, and let us be firm (strong) for our people, and for the towns of our God: and Jehovah will do what seemeth Him good.” Joab calls the towns of Israel the towns of our God, inasmuch as the God of Israel had given the land to the people of Israel, as being His own property. Joab and Abishai were about to fight, in order that Jehovah’s possessions might not fall into the hands of the heathen, and become subject to their gods.
2Sa 10:13-14 Joab then advanced with his army to battle against Aram, and “they fled before him.” – 2Sa 10:14. When the Ammonites perceived this, they also fled before Abishai, and drew back into the city (Rabbah); whereupon Joab returned to Jerusalem, probably because as we may infer from 2Sa 11:1, it was too late in the year for the siege and capture of Rabbah.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2Sa 10:7. And all the host of the mighty men Which Houbigant renders the chosen strength of the army; the flower of the troops. Some understand thereby the worthies mentioned in the 23rd chapter. See Schmidt’s Observations. The 94th Psalm is supposed to have been written upon this occasion.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(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.
In like manner, the servants of our Almighty David, when sent forth by him, and his divine presence accompanying them, are sure of victory. It is a precious thought, and never to be forgotten by the Christian warrior, the issue of his warfare is not doubtful, but sure. What Jesus hath purchased by his blood, and God our Father hath engaged for in his covenant, can never subject the event of redemption in his people to uncertainty. Tried, Christ’s soldiers may be, and tried they w ill be: but they must finally overcome. Jesus hath made the conquest; and they overcome not in themselves, but in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 12:11 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 10:7 And when David heard of [it], he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
Ver. 7. He sent Joab. ] As far as Medeba, a city in the borders of Amnon, choosing rather to make that the seat of the war than his own country.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all the host: 2Sa 23:8-39, 1Ch 19:8-19
Reciprocal: 2Sa 18:2 – the hand of Joab
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 10:7-8. He sent Joab and all the host He did not think it prudent to stay till they assaulted him in his own country, but went and invaded theirs. And the children of Ammon came out, &c. They drew up their army, either before Rabbah, the metropolis of the country, or before Medeba, in the borders of it, where their confederates were pitched, 1Ch 19:7.