Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand
(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
1 Chronicles 19:6–19, “And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah. 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. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field. Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee. Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight. So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem. And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host. And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.”
The Ammonites realised, too late, that they had offended the most powerful king in the region and that they were in grave danger themselves. They collected as much silver as they could and sent it to another kingdom to hire mercenaries. It is interesting that they only sent silver for, surely, any self respecting king would send gold. Obviously, they were not as powerful or wealthy as they pretended to be. David sent Joab, the senior general in his army along with the best of his troops. Joab had been responsible for taking Jebus (Jerusalem) so he had proven himself to be a brave warrior and master tactician. One of the most fearful attacks an army can face is one that comes on two fronts. The mercenaries came to attack the Israeli armies from two sides. Joab divided his troops into two divisions and put his brother in command of one division while he took command of the other division. They each faced the enemies on their side while they trusted the other division to look after their backs. The Israelis were victorious on both fronts and won a miraculous victory. The mercenaries and their own kings made peace with David and no one wanted to help the Ammonites any more.
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