Bible Strands
2 Samuel 10:5
When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David receives news that Hanun’s envoys were publicly shamed by having their beards shaved and garments cut at the hips. He dispatches couriers to retrieve the humiliated men and orders them to remain in Jericho until their hair regrows.
The words — The Hebrew נִכְלָמִים (nikh.la.Mim) describes a state of public disgrace, while לִ/קְרָאתָ֔/ם (li/k.ra.Ta/m) literally means “to meet” or “to go to them,” indicating David’s direct intervention. These terms frame the king’s response as a practical recovery mission rather than a diplomatic or military maneuver.
The thread — This event parallels the account in 1 Chronicles 19:5 and uses Jericho as a temporary holding place, later noted in 1 Kings 16:34 for its cursed rebuilding. The text links the city’s geography to a period of forced withdrawal and physical restoration.
Why it lands — The passage records David prioritizing the men’s dignity and recovery over immediate retaliation. It requires readers to recognize that restoring shame requires time and privacy before any further action.
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
When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 19:5 When someone came and told David about his men, he sent messengers to meet them, since the men had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”
- Joshua 6:24 Then the Israelites burned up the city and everything in it. However, they put the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house.
- 1 Kings 16:34 In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.