David-Fights For a Just Cause

By Mary Vee
II Samuel 10, I Chrinicles 19, Psalm 60

From the Journal of A Spy in King David's Court

courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

To say King David became angry at King Hanun for disgracing his men would be like saying the sun is a dot in the sky and does little.

King David is a man of honor, patience, kindness, and dedication to God. He is also a man of war, ready to fight for a just cause. When I reported Hanun's disgraceful treatment of his loyal soldiers, David communicated quite clearly to Hanun he had become a stench in Davi'd nostrils.

King Hanun wisely became terrified. He spent a thousand talents of silver (thirty-seven tons) to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah. These  were men from the north in Mesopotamia. The men, in turn hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as Maacah with his troops.

Maacah camped near Medeba and the Ammonites gathered their troops to prepare for battle. Medeba is in Moab, across the River Jordan and south, by the Dead Sea.

Does this sound like storm troopers being sent to fight David and his men? Hanun sounded the "I'm totally scared of David, his soldiers, and his God" cry. Hanun made sure he could destroy David and his army by placing the Ammonites on the north, and Maacah's men to the east and south.

I reported to David the call to battle. He immediately sent for Joab and ordered him to prepare the entire army of fighting men to defend our people. 

The Ammonites came out of their cities and drew up in battle formation while the kings who arrived from other places formed in the open country.

Joab sent word back to David, "There are battle lines in front and behind. I have selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. I put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai, my brother, and deployed them against the Ammonites."

"If the Arameans are too strong for me, then Abishai agreed to rescue me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for him, then I will rescue him. I gave him this command "Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight."

The battle began. Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans. The wimps fled, running away like little mice. When the Ammonites saw the strong Arameans had fled, they turned and ran away from Abishai and his men. God set fear in their hearts for the sake of His people.

The battle did not end here. Come back next time to read what the Arameans tried next.

Here is a Psalm we sing:    Psalm 2

Why do the nations plan rebellion?
    Why do people make their useless plots?
 Their kings revolt,
    their rulers plot together against the Lord
    and against the king he chose.
 “Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say;
    “let us throw off their control.”

 From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs
    and mocks their feeble plans.
 Then he warns them in anger
    and terrifies them with his fury.
 “On Zion,^[a] my sacred hill,” he says,
    “I have installed my king.”

 “I will announce,” says the king, “what the Lord has declared.
    He said to me: ‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
 Ask, and I will give you all the nations;
    the whole earth will be yours.
 You will break them with an iron rod;
    you will shatter them in pieces like a clay pot.’”

 Now listen to this warning, you kings;
    learn this lesson, you rulers of the world:
Serve the Lord with fear;
     tremble  and bow down to him;
     or else his anger will be quickly aroused,
    and you will suddenly die.
Happy are all who go to him for protection.

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1.  Why did King Hanun spend a thousand talents of silver?

2.  What did he do to David (answer in the last post)

3.  Who was afraid, Hanun or David?

4.  What did David do when he heard about the call to battle?

5.  What sneaky battle plan did Hanun's armies use?

6.  Joab, the captain of David's army decide to _________ the army.

7.  Joab told Abishai to ________________

8.  What happened in the battle?   (it's okay, you can laugh)