6 And the sons of Ammon see that they have made themselves abhorred by David, and Hanun and the sons of Ammon send a thousand talents of silver, to hire to them, from Aram-Naharaim, and from Aram-Maachah, and from Zobah, chariots and horsemen; 7 and they hire to them two and thirty thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people, and they come in and encamp before Medeba, and the sons of Ammon have been gathered out of their cities, and come in to the battle. 8 And David heareth, and sendeth Joab, and all the host of the mighty men, 9 and the sons of Ammon come out and set battle in array at the opening of the city, and the kings who have come 'are' by themselves in the field. 10 And Joab seeth that the front of the battle hath been unto him, before and behind, and he chooseth out of all the choice in Israel, and setteth in array to meet Aram, 11 and the remnant of the people he hath given into the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set in array to meet the sons of Ammon. 12 And he saith, 'If Aram be stronger than I, then thou hast been to me for salvation; and if the sons of Ammon be stronger than thou, then I have saved thee; 13 be strong, and we strengthen ourselves, for our people, and for the cities of our God, and Jehovah doth that which is good in His eyes.' 14 And Joab draweth nigh, and the people who 'are' with him, before Aram to battle, and they flee from his face; 15 and the sons of Ammon have seen that Aram hath fled, and they flee—they also—from the face of Abishai his brother, and go in to the city. And Joab cometh in to Jerusalem.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 19:6-15

Chapter Contents

David's wars.

The history is here repeated which we read 2 Samuel 10. The only safety of sinners consists in submitting to the Lord, seeking peace with him, and becoming his servants. Let us assist each other in a good cause; but let us fear lest, while made instruments of good to others, we should come short of salvation, through unbelief and sin.