When Nahash of Ammon dies, David sends envoys to comfort his son Hanun, but Ammonite princes suggest they are spies; Hanun humiliates them by shaving half their beards and cutting their garments at the buttocks. Realizing they have become a stench to David, the Ammonites hire Aramean mercenaries from Beth-rehob, Zobah, Maacah, and Tob. Joab deploys his forces with Abishai facing Ammon while he confronts the Arameans, pledging mutual support; the Arameans flee, and the Ammonites withdraw into their city. When Hadadezer gathers more Arameans, David crosses the Jordan, defeats them at Helam killing seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand horsemen; the Aramean vassals make peace with Israel and fear to help Ammon again.
Read 2 Samuel Chapter 10 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
David
King of Israel whose reign is chronicled with both triumphs and failures
Bathsheba
Woman with whom David committed adultery, later mother of Solomon
Nathan
Prophet who confronted David about his sin and delivered God's covenant
Absalom
David's son who rebelled and tried to take the throne
Joab
David's military commander, loyal but sometimes ruthless
Places in This Chapter
Jericho
View on MapJericho, one of the oldest cities in the world, was the first Canaanite city conquered by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River. Its walls famously fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days as commanded by God through Joshua. Jesus later passed through Jericho, healing blind Bartimaeus and dining with the tax collector Zacchaeus.
Position in Book
David's Rise to PowerChapters 1-5
David's TriumphsChapters 6-10
The ark brought to Jerusalem, God's covenant with David, military victories, kindness to Mephibosheth.
David's Sin and ConsequencesChapters 11-20
EpilogueChapters 21-24