32 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
32 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "1 Chronicles 19:1–19"
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date = "2024-04-15"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1Chronicles19.1-19)
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Sometimes, diplomacy fails, but in this instance it does not appear to be David's fault.
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King David had a good relationship with King Nahash of the Ammonites, so he decided to send a delegation to the new King Hanun after Nahash died as a display of friendship.
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Hanun, however, does not take it kindly.
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Much like David's grandson Rehoboam will be given bad advice in his time, Hanun's advisors convince him the Israelites are spies.
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Hanun orders them captured, half their beards shaved off, and their robes cut off at the hips.
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The delegation is then sent home in disgrace, looking ridiculous, showing off their underwear. (If they even had any; I don't know what the fashion was then.)
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Their shame is so deep that they don't even want to show their faces to their king, and they send messenger ahead to tell David what happened.
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He understands their position and has them remain in Jericho until they look respectable again.
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In the meantime, Hanun's insult does not go unchallenged.
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Somehow, anyway.
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We aren't told what happens between verses 5 and 6, but Ammon gathers together an army to attack Israel, hiring chariots and horsemen from their neighbors to bolster their numbers.
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Joab puts his brother Abishai in charge of half of the army so that they fight on two fronts.
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Abishai will fight the Ammonites and Joab will fight the Syrian mercenaries.
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They make plans to help each other as needed, but the Lord gives them victory over both groups of forces.
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The retreating Syrians call up reinforcements from Zobah, also ethnically Syrians, who had been defeated by David previously.
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King Hadadezer again joins in battle with King David and is again defeated, this time for good.
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Zobah then becomes a subject of Israel and no longer an ally willing to help Ammon.
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* * *
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Rivers of water and flows of battle are equally directed by Your hand.
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