This verse from 1 Chronicles 19:2 explains David's motivation for sending a delegation to Hanun, the new king of Ammon:
"David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” This is the core of the verse. It highlights David's sense of obligation and reciprocity. Nahash, Hanun's father, had shown kindness to David, and David felt it was his duty to return that favor to Nahash's son. The exact nature of Nahash's kindness isn't specified in this passage, but it was significant enough that David felt compelled to act. This demonstrates David's character as someone who values loyalty and remembers acts of goodwill.
"So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father." This is the action David took to fulfill his intention. He sent a delegation to express condolences to Hanun for the loss of his father, Nahash. This was a customary practice in that time to show respect and support to a grieving ruler.
"David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him." This simply states that David's messengers carried out his instructions and traveled to Ammon to offer their condolences to Hanun.
In essence, the verse is about:
Reciprocity and Loyalty: David's desire to repay a past kindness.
Diplomacy: David's attempt to maintain good relations with a neighboring kingdom.
Mourning Customs: The practice of offering comfort to a ruler who had lost a parent.
The verse sets the stage for the subsequent events in the chapter, which unfortunately take a turn for the worse when Hanun's advisors misinterpret David's gesture as a sign of espionage and humiliate David's messengers, leading to war between Israel and Ammon.
This verse from 1 Chronicles 19:2 explains David's motivation for sending a delegation to Hanun, the new king of Ammon:
"David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” This is the core of the verse. It highlights David's sense of obligation and reciprocity. Nahash, Hanun's father, had shown kindness to David, and David felt it was his duty to return that favor to Nahash's son. The exact nature of Nahash's kindness isn't specified in this passage, but it was significant enough that David felt compelled to act. This demonstrates David's character as someone who values loyalty and remembers acts of goodwill.
"So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father." This is the action David took to fulfill his intention. He sent a delegation to express condolences to Hanun for the loss of his father, Nahash. This was a customary practice in that time to show respect and support to a grieving ruler.
"David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him." This simply states that David's messengers carried out his instructions and traveled to Ammon to offer their condolences to Hanun.
In essence, the verse is about:
Reciprocity and Loyalty: David's desire to repay a past kindness.
Diplomacy: David's attempt to maintain good relations with a neighboring kingdom.
Mourning Customs: The practice of offering comfort to a ruler who had lost a parent.
The verse sets the stage for the subsequent events in the chapter, which unfortunately take a turn for the worse when Hanun's advisors misinterpret David's gesture as a sign of espionage and humiliate David's messengers, leading to war between Israel and Ammon.