1 Chronicles 19:4

Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

Wherefore Hanun {H2586} took {H3947} David's {H1732} servants {H5650}, and shaved {H1548} them, and cut off {H3772} their garments {H4063} in the midst {H2677} hard by their buttocks {H4667}, and sent them away {H7971}.

So Hanun took David's servants, shaved them, cut off their clothes halfway up, at their hips, and then sent them away.

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

So Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 19:4 details a profoundly insulting act committed by Hanun, the king of Ammon, against David's envoys. This pivotal moment directly ignited a major conflict between Israel and the Ammonites.

Context

Following the death of Nahash, the Ammonite king, David sent messengers to express condolences to his son and successor, Hanun. This was an kind and diplomatic act, likely remembering previous kindness shown by Nahash to David. However, Hanun's advisors, suspicious of David's motives, convinced him that the envoys were spies sent to explore the city before an attack. Acting on this misguided counsel, Hanun subjected David's representatives to extreme public humiliation, as described in this verse. This same event is also recorded in 2 Samuel 10:4, providing parallel accounts of this significant incident.

Key Themes

  • Profound Insult and Dishonor: The actions taken by Hanun were designed to utterly shame and dishonor David's messengers, and by extension, David himself. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a man's beard symbolized his dignity and manhood, making its removal a grave disgrace. Similarly, cutting off their garments to expose their nakedness from the waist down was an act of extreme public humiliation.
  • Breach of Diplomacy and Trust: David extended an olive branch of peace and condolence, but Hanun responded with suspicion and outright hostility, betraying the norms of diplomatic courtesy. This highlights the fragility of international relations when trust is absent.
  • Consequences of Mistrust: Hanun's rash decision, based on the bad advice of his counselors, immediately escalated a diplomatic gesture into a full-blown war between Israel and Ammon, leading to significant bloodshed and suffering, as recounted in the subsequent verses of this chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The actions described — "shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks" — underscore the severity of the insult. To be shaved of one's beard (or half of it, as some interpretations suggest) was to be stripped of one's honor and identity in that cultural context. The cutting of garments to expose the men's private parts was a public shaming tactic designed to inflict maximum psychological and social damage, rendering them utterly contemptible in the eyes of others. This was not merely an inconvenience but a deliberate act of profound degradation intended to provoke a strong reaction.

Practical Application

This historical account serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly mistrust, fueled by poor counsel, can escalate into destructive conflict. For leaders, it highlights the critical importance of discerning wisdom in receiving advice and exercising caution before reacting to perceived threats. For individuals, it illustrates the pain and damage that can result from intentional acts of humiliation and the need for wisdom in how we respond when faced with such affronts. David's subsequent actions, though leading to war, were also a defense of his honor and the dignity of his kingdom and his people.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 10:4 (3 votes)

    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.

  • 2 Samuel 10:5 (3 votes)

    When they told [it] unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and [then] return.

  • Psalms 35:12 (2 votes)

    They rewarded me evil for good [to] the spoiling of my soul.

  • Isaiah 47:2 (2 votes)

    Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

  • Isaiah 47:3 (2 votes)

    Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet [thee as] a man.

  • Isaiah 15:2 (2 votes)

    He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

  • Psalms 109:4 (2 votes)

    For my love they are my adversaries: but I [give myself unto] prayer.