King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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?
Complete Jewish Bible:
but the leaders of the people of 'Amon said to Hanun their lord, "Do you really think David is honoring your father by sending people to comfort you? Hasn't David actually sent his servants to you in order to look the city over, reconnoiter it and overthrow it?"
Berean Standard Bible:
the 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?”
American Standard Version:
But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the princes{H8269} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} said{H559} unto Hanun{H2586} their lord{H113}, Thinkest{H5869} thou that David{H1732} doth honour{H3513} thy father{H1}, that he hath sent{H7971} comforters{H5162} unto thee? hath not David{H1732} rather sent{H7971} his servants{H5650} unto thee, to{H5668} search{H2713} the city{H5892}, and to spy it out{H7270}, and to overthrow{H2015} it?
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 42:16
- Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye [are] spies.
Genesis 42:9
- And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
1 Corinthians 13:5
- Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1 Corinthians 13:7
- Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 10:3
2 Samuel 10:3 is part of the narrative that describes the tension between the Ammonites and the Israelites during King David's reign. The historical context is set against the backdrop of David's military campaigns and his efforts to establish and secure the borders of his kingdom. The Ammonites, longstanding neighbors and occasional adversaries of Israel, are central to this episode.
In this verse, the princes of the Ammonites are advising their king, Hanun, on how to interpret the actions of David. Following the death of the Ammonite king Nahash, David had sent a delegation to express his condolences, which was seen as a gesture of goodwill and honor to Nahash. However, the princes cast suspicion on David's intentions, suggesting that his true motive was to exploit the leadership transition in Ammon. They insinuate that David's envoys are not genuine "comforters" but rather spies, sent to reconnoiter the city of Ammon and gather intelligence to facilitate its conquest.
The themes present in this verse include political intrigue, mistrust among nations, and the interpretation of diplomatic gestures. It highlights the delicate nature of international relations in the ancient world, where acts of kindness could be met with cynicism and where leaders had to be wary of both genuine offers of peace and potential subterfuge. This moment of distrust sets the stage for the ensuing conflict between Ammon and Israel, as Hanun's decision to humiliate David's servants leads to a war that is emblematic of the broader struggles David faces in solidifying his kingdom's dominance in the region.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8269
There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׂר
Transliteration: sar
Pronunciation: sar
Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H5983
There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַמּוֹן
Transliteration: ʻAmmôwn
Pronunciation: am-mone'
Description: from עַם; tribal, i.e. inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country; Ammon, Ammonites. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H2586
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָנוּן
Transliteration: Chânûwn
Pronunciation: khaw-noon'
Description: from חָנַן; favored; Chanun, the name of an Ammonite and of two Israelites; Hanun. - Strong's Number: H113
There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
Pronunciation: aw-done'
Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H1732
There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּוִד
Transliteration: Dâvid
Pronunciation: daw-veed'
Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David. - Strong's Number: H3513
There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבַד
Transliteration: kâbad
Pronunciation: kaw-bad'
Description: or כָּבֵד; a primitive root; to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable; causatively, to make weighty (in the same two senses); abounding with, more grievously afflict, boast, be chargeable, [idiom] be dim, glorify, be (make) glorious (things), glory, (very) great, be grievous, harden, be (make) heavy, be heavier, lay heavily, (bring to, come to, do, get, be had in) honour (self), (be) honourable (man), lade, [idiom] more be laid, make self many, nobles, prevail, promote (to honour), be rich, be (go) sore, stop. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H5162
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָחַם
Transliteration: nâcham
Pronunciation: naw-kham'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself); comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self). - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - Strong's Number: H5668
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבוּר
Transliteration: ʻâbûwr
Pronunciation: aw-boor'
Description: or עָבֻר; passive participle of עָבַר; properly, crossed, i.e. (abstractly) transit; used only adverbially, on account of, in order that; because of, for (...'s sake), (intent) that, to. - Strong's Number: H2713
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָקַר
Transliteration: châqar
Pronunciation: khaw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately; find out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound, try. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H7270
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָגַל
Transliteration: râgal
Pronunciation: raw-gal'
Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from רֶגֶל; to walk along; but only in specifically, applications, to reconnoiter, to be atale-bearer (i.e. slander); to lead about; backbite, search, slander, (e-) spy (out), teach to go, view. - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).