And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.
When the Ammonites realized they had made themselves disgusting and offensive to David, they hired foreign soldiers to help them fight. They paid the Syrians from Beth-rehob and Zoba for twenty thousand foot soldiers, got a thousand men from King Maacah, and twelve thousand men from Ish-tob.
The Ammonites knew they had deeply offended David, so they hired foreign armies as mercenaries to help them prepare for the war they knew was coming.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of King David, Israel was expanding its influence, and tensions with neighboring nations like the Ammonites were common due to territorial disputes and alliances. After the Ammonite king Hanun insulted David's messengers who were sent in goodwill, the Ammonites realized they had provoked a powerful enemy and quickly sought military help from Syrian groups to bolster their forces. This hiring of mercenaries from places like Bethrehob, Zoba, Maacah, and Ishtob reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of forming coalitions for defense against threats.
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