1 Chronicles 19 7

1 Chronicles 19:7 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 19:7 nkjv

So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities, and came to battle.

1 Chronicles 19:7 niv

They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba, while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

1 Chronicles 19:7 esv

They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle.

1 Chronicles 19:7 nlt

They also hired 32,000 chariots and secured the support of the king of Maacah and his army. These forces camped at Medeba, where they were joined by the Ammonite troops that Hanun had recruited from his own towns.

1 Chronicles 19 verses

1 Chronicles 19 7 Meaning

This verse describes King David's immediate and authoritative response to the egregious insult and public humiliation inflicted upon his ambassadors by King Hanun of Ammon. Upon hearing of this diplomatic outrage, David swiftly mobilizes and dispatches his entire formidable military force, led by his most experienced and trusted commander, Joab, specifically highlighting the involvement of his elite "mighty men." This action signals an unequivocal declaration of war, demonstrating David's resolve to uphold his kingdom's honor and exert decisive military power.

1 Chronicles 19 7 Context

The setting for 1 Chronicles 19:7 is King David's reign, a period of consolidated power and military might for Israel. The preceding verses (1 Chron 19:1-5) detail a diplomatic overture from David to Hanun, the new king of Ammon, out of kindness shown to David by Hanun's deceased father, Nahash. However, Hanun's skeptical advisors convince him that David's envoys are spies sent to assess the city for conquest. In an act of profound disrespect and direct provocation, Hanun publicly shames the ambassadors by shaving half their beards and cutting their garments mid-thigh, a grave insult in ancient Near Eastern culture that humiliated both the envoys and the king they represented. This act made war inevitable. David’s swift action in verse 7 to mobilize his entire, most powerful fighting force, demonstrates his immediate grasp of the insult's gravity and his unwavering commitment to respond with the full might of his kingdom, asserting his authority and protecting the honor of Israel.

1 Chronicles 19 7 Word analysis

• "And when David heard of it" (וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִיד):

  • וַיִּשְׁמַע (Vayishma): "And he heard." This Hebrew verb shama implies not just the physical act of hearing, but often signifies deep understanding, careful attention, and the subsequent intention to act upon what is heard. Its use here indicates David's immediate comprehension of the profound insult and the gravity of its implications.
  • דָּוִיד (David): The name of the king, central to the narrative, whose leadership defines Israel's response. The insult was a direct affront to him and his sovereignty.
  • "of it": Refers specifically to the humiliating treatment of his ambassadors as detailed in the previous verses, which was tantamount to a declaration of hostilities.

• "he sent" (וַיִּשְׁלַח):

  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (Vayishlach): "And he sent forth." This strong verb indicates an authoritative command and immediate dispatch. It implies a deliberate and intentional act of delegation for a specific, significant purpose.

• "Joab" (יוֹאָב):

  • יוֹאָב (Yo'av): David's supreme commander of the army, renowned for his strategic acumen, battle experience, and ruthless effectiveness. His appointment as the leader of this force signifies the critical importance and seriousness of the impending military campaign. David entrusts his most capable military mind.

• "and all the army" (וְאֵת כָּל־הַצָּבָא):

  • וְאֵת (ve'et): "And with." Links Joab's command to the entire military force.
  • כָּל־ (kol): "All" or "every." This emphasizes the comprehensive and total deployment of available military strength, not just a partial contingent. It speaks to the overwhelming nature of the force being sent.
  • הַצָּבָא (hatzava): "The army," "the host," or "the multitude." Refers to the main fighting body of the kingdom's military forces.

• "of the mighty men" (הַגִּבֹּרִים):

  • הַגִּבֹּרִים (haggibborim): "The mighty ones," "the heroes," or "the valiant warriors." This is a specific designation for the elite, highly skilled, and distinguished fighting force within David's army, often including those individually noted for valor (e.g., in 1 Chron 11:10-47). Their inclusion signifies that David was sending not merely an army, but the best and most formidable segment of his military, assuring a decisive engagement.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And when David heard of it, he sent": This phrase immediately establishes David's proactive and authoritative leadership. His immediate action upon receiving news of the profound insult underscores his responsibility as king to defend his nation's honor and dignity against external threats, signaling that an affront to his envoys was an affront to the entire kingdom.
  • "Joab and all the army of the mighty men": This powerful aggregation emphasizes the formidable nature of the force dispatched. Sending the chief general Joab, in conjunction with "all" of the army, especially including the renowned "mighty men," conveys a message of overwhelming strength and unyielding determination. This was a clear message that David intended to fully address the grave offense with an inescapable military response.

1 Chronicles 19 7 Bonus section

• The Chronicler’s particular emphasis on "all the army of the mighty men" rather than just "the army" serves to highlight the peak military capability and divine enablement present during David's reign. This reflects the Chronicler's theological purpose of presenting David as the ideal king through whom God's purposes were achieved.
• This verse sets the stage for a much larger regional conflict. The Ammonites, recognizing the inevitable and overwhelming response from David, quickly hired Aramaean (Syrian) mercenaries from various kingdoms (1 Chron 19:6). David's decisive mobilization thus not only addressed the immediate Ammonite threat but also expanded the war to include major Aramaic powers, testing the full extent of Israel's military strength and leading to significant victories.
• The incident highlights the cultural value placed on a man's beard and garments in that era. To shave half a beard was to bring intense shame and effeminacy upon an individual, and cutting off half their garments exposed their nakedness, marking them as outcasts or fools. The insult was meticulously calculated to be maximum. David's response was therefore equally meticulous in its severity to counteract this deep humiliation.

1 Chronicles 19 7 Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:7 portrays David's resolute and strategically sound response to the Ammonite king Hanun's unprovoked and deeply insulting treatment of his envoys. In the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, diplomatic representatives embodied the honor and authority of their sending monarch. Their deliberate shaming was a public act of contempt and an undeniable prelude to war. David's swift dispatch of "Joab and all the army of the mighty men" was therefore a proportionate and necessary counter-action. It reflected not only a personal kingly affront but also the collective indignity against Israel, demanding a demonstration of its military might and resolve. The focus on Joab and "the mighty men" underscores that this was no mere border skirmish but a full-scale punitive expedition by David's elite forces. This action aimed to restore David's honor, assert Israel's power, and deter any future challenges or diplomatic abuses from neighboring nations, upholding the king's sacred duty to protect his people's dignity and security.