John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And the children of Ammon came out , etc.] Either out of Rabbah their metropolis, as Josephus f165 ; or rather out of Medeba, as it seems from ( 1 Chronicles 19:7); a city that lay on the borders of their country, and was a frontier town, (see Numbers 21:30); and put the battle in array, at the entering in of the gate ; of the city of Medeba; they were first within the city, but, upon the approach of Joab and his army, they came out and drew up in a line of battle at the gate of it: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, [were] by themselves in the field ; at some distance from the city, the Ammonites not choosing to trust: mercenaries in it; and perhaps they placed these ambush in the field, to get Joab between two fires, as we now express it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-14 - They that are at war with the Son of David, not only give the provocation, but begin the war. God has forces to send against thos that set his wrath at defiance, Isa 5:19, which will convince them tha none ever hardened his heart against God, and prospered. Christ' soldiers should strengthen one another's hands in their spiritual warfare. Let nothing be wanting in us, whatever the success be. When we make conscience of doing our duty, we may, with satisfaction, leave the event with God, assuredly hoping for his salvation in his own way an time.
Original Hebrew ויצאו3318 בני1121 עמון5983 ויערכו6186 מלחמה4421 פתח6607 השׁער8179 וארם758 צובא6678 ורחוב7340 ואישׁ376 טוב2897 ומעכה4601 לבדם905 בשׂדה׃7704
