SUMMARY
This chapter begins with the death of “King Nahash of the Ammonites” (19:1) and David’s subsequent attempt to console the king’s son (19:2). When DavidSecond king of Israel, David united the northern and southern kingdoms. More sends servants to Hanun son of Nahash, Ammonite counselors suggest that David is really trying to gain information to overthrow the land of Ammon (19:3). Therefore, Hanun has David’s messengers humiliated and sent away (19:4-5), which results in a war between the Ammonites/Arameans and Israel (19:6-19).
ANALYSIS
This narrative constitutes a military highpoint under David. He and JoabDavid's military commander who killed Absalom. More (David’s nephew and the commander of his army) join forces to defeat the aggressing Ammonites and Arameans. Tensions that would lead to this war begin when David sent consolers to Hanun of Ammon, but the Ammonite king humiliates those whom David had sent. The Chronicler writes, “So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their waists, and sent them away, and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, ‘Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return’” (1 Chronicles 19:4-5). When David hears of this degradation, he sends “Joab and all the army of the warriors” against the Ammonites and the Arameans fighting in support of Hanun (19:8-10). After Israel puts its enemies to flight (19:14-18), the Arameans surrender and refuse to support the Ammonites any more (19:19).
The initial humiliation of David’s servants and their recovery at Jericho foreshadows a similar episode in 2 Chronicles when, during the reign of king AhazJudean king in the time of Isaiah who engaged in pagan worship and placated the Assyrians. More, Aram and the Northern KingdomThe Northern Kingdom consisted of ten of the twelve tribes of Israel and lasted for 200 years until it was destroyed by Assyria in 721 B.C.E. In the northern kingdom the kings were evil. Prophets like Elijah and Amos railed against them and their evildoing. More of Israel attack JudahJudah was the name of Jacob's fourth son and one of the 12 tribes. More. After Judah is defeated and a number of its inhabitants are taken captive, the prophet Oded notifies Israel they have sinned against God. In response, the warriors of Israel gathered the captives of Judah and “they clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them; and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kindred at Jericho’” (2 Chronicles 28:15). Despite military strife between Israel and Judah, the Israelites’ choice to clothe the Judahites and bring them to Jericho is the positive inverse of the Ammonites’ stripping and humiliation of David’s servants who must recover in Jericho (1 Chronicles 19:4-5). Whereas the conflict between Hanun and David ends in war, the later conflict among the people of Israel ends with a gesture of peace. This may indicate the Chronicler’s hopes for the restoration and reunification of “all Israel” in the postexilic period.
