1 Chronicles 19 6

1 Chronicles 19:6 kjv

And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious 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.

1 Chronicles 19:6 nkjv

When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah.

1 Chronicles 19:6 niv

When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maakah and Zobah.

1 Chronicles 19:6 esv

When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah.

1 Chronicles 19:6 nlt

When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 75,000 pounds of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.

1 Chronicles 19 verses

1 Chronicles 19 6 Meaning

1 Chronicles 19:6 describes the Ammonites' reaction after they deeply offended King David by humiliating his envoys. Realizing the severity of their error, they acknowledged they had made themselves utterly detestable to David. Consequently, their king, Hanun, and the Ammonite nation, poured out an immense sum—a thousand talents of silver—to enlist formidable mercenary forces: chariots and horsemen from three significant Aramean regions: Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah, in preparation for the inevitable conflict with David.

1 Chronicles 19 6 Context

Chapter 19 begins with David extending a diplomatic gesture of kindness to Hanun, the new king of the Ammonites, following the death of Hanun's father, Nahash, who had previously shown favor to David. This act aligns with ancient Near Eastern customs of respecting sovereign succession and maintaining peace. However, Hanun's advisors sowed suspicion, convincing him that David's envoys were spies disguised as mourners, sent to explore and conquer their land. In a profound insult and deliberate act of provocation, Hanun seized David's servants, shaved half their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle up to their buttocks, then sent them back. This act of disfigurement and humiliation was a direct violation of diplomatic immunity and an intentional act of war. Verse 6 specifically details the Ammonites' immediate realization of the gravity of their affront to David, recognizing that their egregious behavior had irrevocably turned David's good intentions into justified fury. Understanding that war was now inevitable, they spared no expense to assemble a formidable military defense from various allied Aramean kingdoms.

1 Chronicles 19 6 Word analysis

• When the Ammonites saw:
  • Ammonites (bənê-ʿammôn): Literally "sons of Ammon," descendants of Lot. They were perpetual antagonists of Israel throughout much of its history. This phrase highlights their conscious perception and realization of the precarious situation they had created.
• that they had made themselves a stench:
  • Made themselves a stench (kî hitba'ǎšû): A powerful Hebrew idiom (from the root ba'ash, "to stink") signifying becoming utterly detestable, loathsome, and abhorrent to another. The Hithpael (reflexive) stem explicitly means they brought this profound offense upon themselves through their own actions, thereby making peace impossible.
  • Significance: It implies a deep moral and diplomatic insult that provoked righteous anger and demanded retribution. This phrase immediately establishes the legitimacy of David's subsequent military response.
• to David:
  • Signifies the direct affront against God's anointed king, implicitly incurring God's disfavor. It was a personal insult to David's honor and kingship, unequivocally recognized as a declaration of war.
• Hanun and the Ammonites sent:
  • Hanun: The individual king responsible for the initial misguided decision, heavily influenced by his counselors. His name ironically means "favored" or "gracious."
  • The mention of both "Hanun and the Ammonites" shows corporate responsibility and national mobilization for war, highlighting the entire nation's unified commitment to their leader's decision.
• a thousand talents of silver:
  • Thousand talents (ʾelep̄ kikkar): An enormous, indeed astronomical, sum of money. A single talent weighed approximately 75 pounds (about 34 kg). This quantity indicates their profound fear, desperation, and readiness to expend vast wealth for self-preservation. It underscores the scale and expense of the mercenary operation they funded, signaling their urgent and comprehensive defensive preparations.
• to hire chariots and horsemen:
  • Hire (liśkōr): Reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of contracting mercenary forces.
  • Chariots and horsemen: Represented the most powerful, elite, and expensive military components of ancient armies. Chariotry was capable of devastating infantry. This signifies their desire for the most formidable offensive and defensive capabilities.
• from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah:
  • Mesopotamia (Aram Naharayim): "Aram of the Two Rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates), known for its equestrian skills and military prowess. Indicates their far-reaching recruitment for military aid.
  • Aram-maacah: A smaller Aramean kingdom situated north of Israel.
  • Zobah: A major and powerful Aramean kingdom, ruled by Hadadezer, a significant regional rival to David. Seeking help from such powerful allies reflects the Ammonites' perceived overwhelming threat from David, resulting in a formidable coalition against Israel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves a stench to David": This entire clause precisely establishes the casus belli (the cause of the war). It vividly portrays the Ammonites' own realization of the profound, self-inflicted insult they had committed against David, confirming their understanding that an unavoidable and justified military retaliation from David was imminent. Their insight underlines that David's subsequent action was righteous.
• "Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire": This phrase details the national resolve and immense financial commitment involved in their defensive strategy. The explicit mention of such an astronomical sum of silver highlights the vast resources the Ammonites mobilized, showcasing their extreme desperation and their perceived need for extraordinary measures. This financial detail is unique to the Chronicler's account compared to the Samuel parallel, potentially emphasizing the futility of material wealth against divine purpose.
• "chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah": This specifies the nature and origin of the mercenary forces they acquired. These were elite, well-regarded military units from powerful regional states known for their formidable armies. Their recruitment of forces from far-flung, powerful kingdoms demonstrates the overwhelming scale of the threat they perceived from David and their comprehensive, though ultimately unavailing, strategy for defending themselves.

1 Chronicles 19 6 Bonus section

The chronicler’s inclusion of the precise monetary amount, "a thousand talents of silver," rather than solely the number of troops (as in 2 Samuel 10:6), serves to underscore the Ammonites’ immense wealth and their willingness to pour it all into this conflict, demonstrating the extreme desperation of their situation. This emphasis also contrasts human riches and military power with God's ultimate victory, aligning with the chronicler's broader theological theme of God's control and provision for His chosen. This staggering cost of war reminds us of the immense consequences of pride and foolish diplomatic decisions. It also sets up a stark contrast between human strength and alliances versus the divine power that eventually brings David's forces victory. The mercenary enlistment brought powerful Aramean kingdoms like Zobah, under Hadadezer, into direct conflict with David, significantly expanding the scope of the war from merely punitive action against Ammon to a broader regional conflict with a formidable coalition of enemies, a testament to David's military prowess, ultimately enabled by God's hand.

1 Chronicles 19 6 Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:6 concisely captures the Ammonites' desperate strategic response to their own profound diplomatic blunder. The phrase "made themselves a stench" is pivotal; it signifies an act of such grave offense that it demands punitive action. Hanun's insult to David's envoys, including their physical mutilation, was not merely a diplomatic gaffe but a deliberate breach of honor and an explicit declaration of hostilities in ancient Near Eastern culture. Recognizing the irreparable damage, the Ammonites, under King Hanun, immediately engaged in a colossal expenditure—a thousand talents of silver. This exorbitant sum, a fortune by ancient standards, underscores their extreme apprehension and total commitment to mustering the best available mercenary forces. They sought military strength primarily in "chariots and horsemen," the formidable armored and mobile units of their era, from key Aramean powers like Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and especially Zobah, known for its powerful king Hadadezer. This action illustrates the folly of relying on human strength and alliances after provoking the anointed of God. Despite their enormous investment in military might, the ensuing war (described in the rest of the chapter) results in David's resounding victory, demonstrating God's sovereignty over even the most powerful human alliances and chariots, a recurrent theme throughout Scripture.