Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away.
Ver. 4. Wherefore Hanun took David's servants.] His ambassadors, whom to misuse was against the law of nations, and severely punished by the Romans upon the Corinthians, whose city they razed and destroyed for some contumelious speeches given to their ambassadors. But Hanun did not only reproach and revile these men, sed turpiter deformavit Legatorum vultum et vestitum, but basely deformed and abused them, 1Ch 19:4 which the Vulgate rendereth, Decalvavit, rasit, praecidit tunicas eorum, making it a threefold indignity and ignominy that he put upon them.
And shaved off the one half of their beards.] Which, amongst the Greeks and the Egyptians, was wont to be done in derision and for a scorn. Imo apud omnes nationes probrosum est barbam vellere. a But there was more in it than all this; for these Ammonites knew that the Israelites were forbidden either a shaven beard or a short garment. In despite therefore, likely, to their law, David's ambassadors are sent away with both. Julian the apostate served the Christians, whom he contumeliously called Galileans, in like sort, writing books against their gospel, and robbing them of their riches, that, as he said, they might go more readily to heaven.
And cut off their garments.] Which the Hebrews wore long and side, both for ease and honesty. See Isaiah 20:4; Isaiah 47:2,3. As for those Christiansthat separate knowledge and good conscience, they deal by their holy calling, saith one, as Hanun did by David's servants, when he disguised them, and cut heir garments in the midst.
Even to their buttocks.] That the shame of their nakedness might appear, and especially that of their circumcision, so derided by the heathen.
“ Credat Iudaeus Apella ”
a Plut., in Ages. Herod. Euterp.