I. HANUN, the son of Nahash King of the Ammonites, is very well known in Scripture for the insult offered to David’s Ambassadors, who came to complement him upon his father’s death. Hanun by the advice of some evil counsellors, who told him, that David had no other view but to discover the weakest places of the country, in order to attack him afterwards to more 2 Sam. x. and 1 Chr. xix.advantage; gave directions to cut off the Ambassadors clothes half way their bodies, and to shave their beards: and in this manner he dismissed them. David exasperated at such a dishonourable way of proceeding, declared war against the Ammonites, and sent Joab with the choice of his troops against them. The Ammonites procured In the year of the World 2967, before J. C. 1033, before the Vulgar Æra 1037.assistance from Syria, and from beyond the Euphrates; but Joab giving part of the army to his brother Abishai, attacked the Syrians, while Abishai fell upon the Ammonites. They conquered on both sides, and dispersed the enemy wheresoever they met him. David, upon intelligence of this success, passed the river Jordan in person, with the rest of his troops, and defeated the Syrians in a set battle.
In the year of the World 2968, before J. C. 1032, before the Vulgar Æra 1036.The year following the war continued still against the Ammonites a. David sent Joab to besiege Rabbah their Capital. During this siege, David committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, and procured the death of Uriah by the sword of the Ammonites. When the city was reduced to the a 2 Sam. xi. xii.last extremities, Joab gave notice of it to David, who came with the rest of Israel, took the city, put the inhabitants under saws, harrows, and axes of iron, and carried off a great booty. The other cities of the Ammonites he treated in the same manner.