Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father - It has been a matter of just complaint through all the history of mankind, that there is little sincerity in courts. Courtiers, especially, are suspicious of each other, and often mislead their sovereigns. They feel themselves to be insincere, and suspect others to be so too.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The princes … - Compare Rehoboam‘s advisers 1 Kings 12:10-11. It is not improbable that David‘s severe treatment of Moab 2 Samuel 8:2 was in part the cause of the fear of the Ammonites that a similar treatment was in store for themselves.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord,.... His nobles and prime ministers, the courtiers that were about him:

thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? could he imagine that David was sincere, and that he really meant to do honour to the memory of his father, and comfort him under the loss of him, by sending his ambassadors to him on such an errand? there was no reason, they thought, to believe this, since an Israelite was forbidden to seek their peace and prosperity, or ask of it, nor might Ammonite enter into their congregation unto the tenth generation, Deuteronomy 23:3; and indeed some have thought that David did not do a right thing in sending this embassy, and was justly requited; but it is certain he acted according to the laws of friendship, and was cordial and sincere in what he did, though these courtiers of Hanun put an ill construction on his conduct, their minds being filled with enmity against the Israelites:

hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee to search the city,

and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? to reconnoitre the place, to observe, as they walked about in it, which were the weakest and most defenceless parts of it, and what avenues there were to it, and which were most accessible, that they might the better know how to attack it, and destroy it; these surmises and suspicions they endeavoured to fill the king's head with, to set him against them, and treat them ill.

Geneva Study Bible

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, ^b to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

(b) Their arrogant malice would not allow them to see the simplicity of David's heart: therefore their counsel turned to the destruction of their country.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun — Their suspicion was not warranted either by any overt act or by any cherished design of David: it must have originated in their knowledge of the denunciations of God‘s law against them (Deuteronomy 23:3-6), and of David‘s policy in steadfastly adhering to it.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David [rather] sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Ver. 3. Thinkest thou that David, &c.?] q.d, We think otherwise: wicked men muse as they use, and measure others by their own foot. These tale bearers - besides the old quarrel [Genesis 3:15 compare Matthew 23:13 Acts 13:10 Proverbs 29:27 1 John 3:8] - retained a hereditary hatred against Israel. See Deuteronomy 23:3-5. And hence these evil surmises, calumnies, and sinful counsels, whereof at length themselves had the worst.

“ ηδε κακη βουλη τω βουλευσαντι κακιστη”

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

To observe where the city is weakest, and may soonest be taken. The ground of this suspicion was, partly, the conscience of their ill deserts and carriage towards the Israelites, whose quarrel David had espoused; partly, the opinion they had of David’s policy; and partly, the severity of God’s law, particularly against them, Deuteronomy 23:6, which might easily come to their ears. And they knew David was a zealous asserter of God’s laws.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

3.The princes — The chiefs or sheiks of the people, who acted as counsellors of the king.

Thinkest thou — “Courtiers, especially, are suspicious of each other, and often mislead their sovereigns. They feel themselves to be insincere, and suspect others to be so too.” — Clarke.

To search the city — This city was Rabbah, the capital city of the children of Ammon. See on 2 Samuel 12:26; Deuteronomy 3:11; Joshua 13:25.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

It. Thus, by their insinuations, they pervert the good dispositions of their prince, and by too much policy bring ruin on the nation. (Haydock) --- History affords many examples of similar effects of worldly wisdom. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

search = explore.

the city. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "the land". Compare 1 Chronicles 19:3.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

The princes of the children of Ammon unto Hanun. Their suspicion was not warranted either by any overt act or by a cherished design of David: it must have originated in their knowledge of the denunciations of God's law against them (Deuteronomy 23:3-6), and of David's policy in stedfastly adhering to it.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) To search the city.—The capital, and almost the only city of the Ammonites was Rabbah; it was strongly fortified, and a knowledge of its interior would be important to an enemy. The suspicions of the Ammonites may have been roused by David’s growing power, and especially by his conquest of the neighbouring Moabites.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

Thinkest thou that David doth

Heb. In thine eyes doth David. not.

Genesis 42:9,16; 1 Corinthians 13:5,7

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:3 - to search;  2 Samuel 3:25 - and to know;  Romans 2:3 - thinkest