Read 1 Chronicles 19
David Defeats the Ammonites
19 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. 2 David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, 3 the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” 4 So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”
6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah and Zobah. 7 They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.
8 On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men.9 The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.
10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishaihis brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lordwill do what is good in his sight.”
14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.
16 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.
19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.
So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.
Go Deeper
Chapter 19 begins by sharing that the Ammonite king, Nahash, has died. Traditionally, the death of a monarch presented a golden opportunity for neighboring kingdoms to pounce in an attack and take control of the territory. Chapter 18 demonstrates that David was a victorious conqueror having subdued all the other major kingdoms around Israel, so this would have been the perfect time to finish the job by conquering Ammon.
But verse 2 tells us something different. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Hanun’s advisors assume David has evil intentions. They convince Hanun that David sent the envoy to scout the territory in preparation for conquering it. Hanun responds by humiliating the messengers and defiantly sending them back to Israel. This leads to war between the kingdoms, with the Arameans getting involved as well. All because Hanun made a bad assumption out of fear. He feared David would humiliate him, so he humiliated David first.
At times, we might respond the same as Hanun. We fear someone has selfish intentions to make us look bad, so we strike first. We fear showing kindness will make us look weak, so we take a stance of power and judgment. We fear an apology is presented to “check the box” rather than to show real remorse, so we hold on to bitterness. We fear a friend or relative is avoiding us, so avoid them. The problem is that while all of these scenarios are an attempt to protect ourselves, we still suffer. We suffer from regret, pain, loneliness, and loss.
Instead, what if we respond to these situations by assuming positive intent and showing kindness? Instead of focusing on how to protect against our fear, what if we focused on how to show our love, God’s love? First John 4:18 states “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” What if instead of assuming the worst in others we assumed the best?
By demonstrating love and kindness, we reflect God’s love and demonstrate our trust of the situation to Him.
Questions
- Has there been a time when you made an assumption and acted out of fear? What regret, pain, loneliness, or loss resulted for you and/or others?
- Why is assuming positive intent difficult?
- Which of the practical ways to assume positive intent will you enact this week?
Keep Digging
Wondering what kindness Nahash showed David that he references in verse 2? Learn more about Nahash from this article at GotQuestions.org.
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7 responses to “1 Chronicles 19”
Assumptions
Not a good word. Most of the time when I assume something it does not turn out well. There alwasy seems to be a misunderstood part, which results in a needless conflict. I have learned over these years that there really is no stupid question. If you do not understand or know then it is better to ask. I believe this is also an act of humility.
This word kindness, here in verse one, is one of my favorite Hebrew words “Hesed” These words are from Strong’s #2617 – חֶסֶד concordance= God’s hesed denotes persistent and unconditional tenderness, kindness, and mercy, a relationship in which He seeks after man with love and mercy. Hesed expresses both God’s loyalty to His covenant and His love for His people along with a faithfulness to keep His promises.
God thank You for not making assumptions. God help me to be more authentic, transparent and to ask questions when I am not sure. God give me direction in my understanding. Thank You for helping me with my memory. Thank You for how You show Your hesed love to me and that I can turn it outward to others. Thank You for how You are so loyal even when I fail. You keep Your promises with faithfulness. God continue to help me Shema hear You, so that I listen to obedience and do what is good and right in Your eyes, today in these minutes of this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A point we should note from Hanun’s life is that when we are in a vulnerable place our hearts and can be LEAST trusted. When our feelings are raging it’s the perfect time to embrace humility and bring our conflicted emotions to the Father.
Great point, Ella— I’m right there with you!
This chapter is such a powerful portrayal of leadership — the good, the bad and the Almighty. Kindness and generosity met with suspicion and cruelty. Humiliation covered with compassionate protection. Courageous faith standing firm before the battle.
David’s righteousness. Hunan’s wickedness. Joab’s bravery.
And God’s perfect justice.
What does this mean for us today?
Our best intentions can turn out badly. Even when we do right, others may respond wrongly. David’s actions were good and his motives were sincere — while Hanun’s behavior was anything but! Matthew Henry points out that “those that are base, and design ill themselves, are apt to be jealous and to suspect ill of others without cause” (Blue Letter Bible).
In other words, we shouldn’t be surprised when “lost people act like lost people.”
Still, human outcomes are not a true measure of faithful obedience. Hanun’s actions were FAR from the end of the story. The Ammonites “did their utmost… yet, having a bad cause, and acting in defense of wrong, it would not do; they were put to the worst. Right will prevail and triumph at last” (Matthew Henry). In the end, God’s people were vindicated, evil was defeated, and justice was restored.
Today’s “Go Deeper” section adds this thoughtful perspective:
“At times, we might respond the same as Hanun. We fear someone has selfish intentions to make us look bad, so we strike first. We fear showing kindness will make us look weak, so we take a stance of power and judgment.”
All of this really hits home for me. I’m currently in the middle of a situation with someone who has brought me harm through self-centered action. BUT I have an obligation to “bless” them in a way I don’t believe they deserve. It’s been an ongoing, messy battle that has has left me suspicious, defensive and resentful.
But here’s what keeps me grounded:
• Personal Integrity. Like David, I’m determined to do what’s right, even when others don’t.
• The Power of Community. Like Joab, I’ve called on wise and godly counsel to stand beside me.
• God’s Sovereignty. God is all-knowing. He sees every detail of this situation — the motives, the injustices, the unseen pieces that make no sense to me. God is trustworthy, so I can trust all the “unseen things” — as well as the outcome — to Him. Because God is all-powerful. Ultimately His justice will always prevail.
So I’m going to take heart from this chapter, “standing firm” on Joab’s words in verse 13:
“Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight.”
This is the tension I live in right now — the call to act bravely and rightly, while leaving the outcome completely up to God. I can’t control what others do or how they will respond — but I CAN choose courage and integrity.
And when I start to wrestle with what’s “fair” or “deserved,” I hear these steadying words:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8:).
This is the ground I’m claiming:
Doing right when it costs me, showing mercy when it stretches me, and trusting God to bring victory in the end.
6 “When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David . . . “
When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to is stop digging! Why do we so often chose to double down on a bad decision by making another bad decision? If the Ammonites had simply acknowledged their misjudgment and apologized, it likely would have gone much better for them! This is our human condition!
Spot on!
The Ammonites’ pride led them to provoke a conflict they could not win. Pride often precedes a fall, as Proverbs 16:18 warns: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Let us remain humble, recognizing our dependence on God.