1 chronicles 19:5 - Then some people went and told David how the men were treated. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
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What does "1 chronicles 19:5" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 19:5 describes David's reaction to a diplomatic disaster. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then some people went and told David how the men were treated." - David had sent envoys to comfort Hanun, the new king of Ammon, after the death of his father. However, Hanun, influenced by his advisors who suspected espionage, humiliated the envoys (described earlier in the chapter). Upon hearing about this, David is informed of the envoys' mistreatment.
"He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated." - David, understanding the severity of the offense, sent messengers to intercept the humiliated men before they arrived back in Jerusalem. He did this because their appearance would have been shameful and would have brought disgrace to the kingdom.
"The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”" - The most important part! David instructs them to remain in Jericho, a town east of Jerusalem, until their beards grew back.
Beards were a sign of honor and respect in ancient Israel. Shaving off half a man's beard was a terrible insult. By having their beards shaved, David's envoys had been intentionally humiliated and stripped of their dignity.
David's instruction to wait for their beards to grow back was a way to allow them to regain their honor before returning to the capital. Their shorn beards were a constant reminder of the insult, and their appearance would have caused shame to both themselves and the kingdom.
Jericho provided a place of refuge and seclusion. It allowed them to avoid public ridicule while they waited for their beards to regrow.
In essence, this verse shows David's wisdom and sensitivity. He understood the gravity of the insult and took steps to mitigate the damage to his envoys' dignity and the reputation of his kingdom. He didn't want them to return in a state of humiliation, so he gave them time to recover and regain their honor before coming back to Jerusalem. The shaved beards were a symbol of disrespect, and growing them back was a crucial part of restoring their honor. This incident ultimately led to war between Israel and Ammon, as the insult was so significant it couldn't be ignored.
1 chronicles 19:5 - Then some people went and told David how the men were treated. He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
What does "1 chronicles 19:5" mean?
This verse from 1 Chronicles 19:5 describes David's reaction to a diplomatic disaster. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then some people went and told David how the men were treated." - David had sent envoys to comfort Hanun, the new king of Ammon, after the death of his father. However, Hanun, influenced by his advisors who suspected espionage, humiliated the envoys (described earlier in the chapter). Upon hearing about this, David is informed of the envoys' mistreatment.
"He sent to meet them; for the men were greatly humiliated." - David, understanding the severity of the offense, sent messengers to intercept the humiliated men before they arrived back in Jerusalem. He did this because their appearance would have been shameful and would have brought disgrace to the kingdom.
"The king said, “Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”" - The most important part! David instructs them to remain in Jericho, a town east of Jerusalem, until their beards grew back.
Beards were a sign of honor and respect in ancient Israel. Shaving off half a man's beard was a terrible insult. By having their beards shaved, David's envoys had been intentionally humiliated and stripped of their dignity.
David's instruction to wait for their beards to grow back was a way to allow them to regain their honor before returning to the capital. Their shorn beards were a constant reminder of the insult, and their appearance would have caused shame to both themselves and the kingdom.
Jericho provided a place of refuge and seclusion. It allowed them to avoid public ridicule while they waited for their beards to regrow.
In essence, this verse shows David's wisdom and sensitivity. He understood the gravity of the insult and took steps to mitigate the damage to his envoys' dignity and the reputation of his kingdom. He didn't want them to return in a state of humiliation, so he gave them time to recover and regain their honor before coming back to Jerusalem. The shaved beards were a symbol of disrespect, and growing them back was a crucial part of restoring their honor. This incident ultimately led to war between Israel and Ammon, as the insult was so significant it couldn't be ignored.