And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
2 SAMUEL 10:6KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 10:6 mean?
2 Samuel 10:6 describes how the Ammonites, realizing they had deeply offended David, decided to prepare for war by hiring mercenary soldiers from several neighboring regions, including the Syrians from Bethrehob and Zoba, as well as men from Maacah and Ishtob. The verse shows the Ammonites’ response to their strained relationship with Israel, choosing to strengthen their military position by forming alliances.
In this verse, the “children of Ammon” refers to the Ammonite people, who saw that they “stank before David”—meaning they had become repugnant or odious to him, likely because of their earlier insult to his messengers. To defend themselves, they hired large numbers of soldiers from surrounding areas. This sets the stage for a larger conflict between Israel and a coalition of its neighbors, showing the seriousness of the offense and the lengths the Ammonites were willing to go to protect themselves.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 10:6
- The word translated “stank” is בָּאַשׁ (ba’ash), which means to become foul or offensive. Here, it emphasizes just how badly the Ammonites had damaged their standing with David, not just a minor offense but something deeply insulting.
- The verb “hired” is שָׂכַר (sakar), which means to pay for someone’s services. This highlights that the Ammonites did not rely only on their own army but actively sought outside help, showing their fear and the seriousness of the situation.
- The names “Syrians” (אֲרָם, aram), “Bethrehob” (בֵּית רְחוֹב, beit-rechov), “Zoba” (צוֹבָה, tsovah), “Maacah” (מַעֲכָה, ma’akah), and “Ishtob” (אִישׁ טוֹב, ish-tov) refer to real regions and peoples north and northeast of Israel. This detail shows the broad coalition being formed against David.
Why 2 Samuel 10:6 matters
- This verse clarifies that the Ammonites’ actions were not just a personal insult but escalated into a major regional conflict, drawing in multiple nations.
- The detail about hiring mercenaries shows the Ammonites’ lack of confidence in their own strength and their willingness to pay for outside help.
- Understanding the alliances formed here helps explain the scale of the battles that follow in the chapter and why David’s response was so forceful.