Bible Strands
2 Samuel 10:16
Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records a military maneuver during David’s campaign against the Arameans, occurring immediately after their initial defeat and regrouping. The text shifts focus from the battlefield to Hadadezer’s logistical response.
The words — וַיִּשְלַח (va-yishlach) translates literally as "and he sent," while מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר (me-'ever ha-nahar) means "from beyond the River." These terms emphasize the deliberate mobilization of distant forces.
The thread — This reinforcement effort parallels 1 Chronicles 19:16, which records the same diplomatic and military dispatch. The campaign also echoes David’s earlier victories over Hadadezer in 2 Samuel 8:3 and 1 Chronicles 18:3.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of how defeated powers escalate conflict rather than submit to judgment. It requires the reader to track the escalating stakes before David’s counter-mobilization in the following verse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 19:16 When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.
- 2 Samuel 8:3 David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.
- 1 Chronicles 18:3 As far as Hamath, David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, who had marched out to establish his dominion along the Euphrates River.
- 1 Chronicles 18:5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men.