Topical Encyclopedia
Background and Context:Hanun was the son of Nahash, the king of the Ammonites. Upon the death of Nahash, Hanun ascended to the throne. The Ammonites were a people often in conflict with Israel, and their territory lay east of the Jordan River. The relationship between Israel and Ammon was complex, marked by periods of both hostility and alliance.
Biblical Account:The account of Hanun's maltreatment of David's servants is recorded in
2 Samuel 10 and
1 Chronicles 19. After the death of Nahash, David sought to show kindness to Hanun, as Nahash had previously shown kindness to him. David sent a delegation to express his condolences and to offer comfort to Hanun.
2 Samuel 10:2-4 :"So David said, 'I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.' So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when David’s servants came to the land of the Ammonites, the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, 'Do you really think that David is honoring your father by sending you messengers to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you in order to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?' So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away."
Analysis:Hanun's actions were driven by suspicion and poor counsel from his advisors. The Ammonite princes convinced Hanun that David's intentions were not genuine, leading to a grave diplomatic insult. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, a man's beard was a symbol of dignity and respect. Shaving half of the beard was a severe humiliation. Additionally, cutting off their garments at the hips exposed the servants, further adding to their disgrace.
Consequences:Hanun's actions had significant repercussions. David, upon learning of the humiliation of his servants, instructed them to stay in Jericho until their beards had grown back, sparing them further shame. This incident escalated tensions between Israel and Ammon, leading to military conflict. David's forces, under the command of Joab, engaged the Ammonites and their allies, resulting in a series of battles that ultimately subdued the Ammonite threat.
1 Chronicles 19:6-7 :"When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. So they hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites marched out from their cities and prepared for battle."
Moral and Theological Implications:Hanun's actions serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of listening to poor counsel and acting out of suspicion and fear. His decision to humiliate David's servants not only dishonored them but also brought unnecessary conflict and suffering upon his own people. The narrative underscores the importance of wisdom, discernment, and the consequences of wicked leadership. It also highlights the value of genuine kindness and the potential for reconciliation, which was squandered by Hanun's rash actions.
Nave's Topical Index
2 Samuel 10:4Why 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.
Nave's Topical Index1 Chronicles 19:2-5
And David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.
Nave's Topical Index
Resources
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