Bible Strands
2 Samuel 10:3
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?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Ammonite princes address Hanun immediately after David’s envoys arrive to offer condolences for Nahash’s death. They voice suspicion that the diplomatic mission conceals a military reconnaissance and invasion plan.
The words — הַמְכַבֵּד (ha/me.kha.Bed) translates literally as “honoring” or “showing respect,” capturing the princes’ sarcastic challenge to Hanun’s assumption of David’s goodwill.
The thread — The accusation of spying mirrors the encounter in Genesis 42:9 and Genesis 42:16, where visitors are suspected of probing land vulnerabilities, while the contrast with 1 Corinthians 13:5 highlights how suspicion corrupts what should be respectful conduct.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that diplomatic gestures can be misread as hostile when fear overrides trust, requiring readers to evaluate motives against stated actions rather than projecting worst-case scenarios.
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 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?
Cross-references
- Genesis 42:9 Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
- Genesis 42:16 Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
- 1 Corinthians 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
- 1 Corinthians 13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.