And when the children of Ammon.
Avenging an insult
I. Insult springing from slight provocation.
1. From a suspicious mind.
2. From advice of jealous princes.
II. Insult leading to unjust war. This War might have been avoided by an honourable apology or better understanding. One evil leads to smother.
III. War terminating in disgraceful overthrow. (J. Wolfendale.)
6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odiousb to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.
7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.
8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.