Day 1 · David’s Messengers Disgraced
2 Samuel 10:1–8
1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. 2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” 4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. 5When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.” 6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob. 7On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. 8The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.
Berean Standard Bible
Observe
How do the Ammonite princes interpret David's attempt to show kindness, and what actions do they take against his messengers in verses 3–4?
Apply
When your good intentions or acts of kindness are misunderstood or rejected, how can you choose to reflect God's grace rather than retaliation this week?
In the app, each day also opens the words in the original language, what the passage meant to its first readers, pastors teaching it, a place to write, and a time to pray.