提要
亞捫和敘利亞的聯軍，似乎在數目上遠超過大衛姪兒約押所指揮的軍兵；但是上帝卻伴著祂的子民，賜給他們全勝。戰爭的發生是因為亞捫的新王哈嫩不敬且苦待大衛的代表。大衛以真誠親切的態度，派了一個官方代表去見哈嫩，向死去的國王，哈嫩的父親，也是大衛的朋友拿轄宣讀弔詞。哈嫩聽從了那些懷疑大衛弔詞之人愚昧的建言，做了一件對當時中東人士最不敬和羞辱的事。大衛的代表無警覺地被逮捕了，衣袍被從中切開，半邊臉的鬍子被刮掉（如撒下10：4之並行記載）。男人鬍子的重要性可由這些人留在耶利哥，直到鬍子又長長了才敢回到王城的事實看出。（欲知更詳細的說明，請看同一故事的並行記載，在讀經日程撒下10章的評註中）。
亞捫人，羅得之後裔，等著以色列人前來報復；他們不僅集合了自己的軍隊，而且向敘利亞租了一支作戰隊伍。大衛別無選擇，只好對士兵下令，由約押率領，到戰場上與與敵人周旋。約押表現了性格上極大的信心和毅力，鼓勵他的士兵，拿出最大的力量，使上帝的名高舉；他鼓勵他們要堅立不搖，順從上帝的旨意，並信賴主會為他們介入，做一些祂眼中看為美好的事。身為主耶穌基督精兵的現代人，同樣地，也該盡力「作成你們得救的工夫…因為你們立志行事，都是上帝在你們心裡運行，為要成就祂的美意」（腓2：12∼13）。
上帝的美意使祂的子民得勝。祂也賜給約押籌畫戰略的智慧，又給以色列人打敗強敵所需要的力量。亞捫人退卻到要塞之城拉巴（今日約但的安曼），而敘利亞人投降了以色列，成為一群封臣（像藩屬、進貢之國）。當年要設置那城的守備為時太晚，所以約押勝利地回到耶路撒冷，並計畫在春天，雨季過後再來佔領拉巴。當這城被以色列人佔領時，為大衛做了一個黃金珠寶製成的顯赫王冠。
寫歷代志的人常省掉一些細節，我們只好由撒母耳記和列王記中並行的記載參讀。他只寫一些關乎全國的歷史事實、祭司體制，和國家敬拜上帝的事。他沒有記下大衛和拔示巴此時所犯的罪（20：1；撒下11：2~27）。這或許是因為此一故事的細節已為眾所周知，或因為這是大衛王個人的事。但也可能只因執筆者沒有受到任何感動要把它記下來。能否說這一省略表示上帝的寬恕呢？我們知道大衛誠心悔改，上帝也饒恕並忘記了一切。
在二十章結束之前，我們也讀到大衛和他大能的士兵，許多值得記下的勝利。三則與巨人歌利亞及其親屬有關。歌利亞曾是令人頭痛的非力士巨人，卻被大衛英勇的剷除。沒有敵人對大衛是太大，因為他有永活的、全能之上帝在旁邊做他的幫助。
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Overview
The combined forces of the Ammonites and Syrians would likely have far outnumbered David's army under the command of his nephew Joab, yet God was with His people to give them a great victory. The war began because of the disrespectfulness and cruelty shown David's delegates by Hanun, the new king of Ammon. With honest and sincere intentions, David sent an official delegation to Hanun to offer his condolences upon the death of king Nahash, Hanun's father and David's friend. Hanun listened to the unwise advice of others who were suspicious of David's delegation. They did the most dishonouring and shameful thing for an eastern man at that time. The unsuspecting servants of David were captured, their robes were cut off at the middle, and their beards were shaven off on one half of their face (as recorded in the parallel account in 2 Samuel 10:4). The importance of a man's beard is seen by the fact that these men waited in Jericho until it grew back to a respectful length before returning to the royal city. (For more detailed information on the parallel account of the same story, see the "Day Unto Day" commentary on 2 Samuel 10).
The Ammonites, descendants of Lot, expected an Israelite retaliation; so they not only called out their own troops, but hired a fighting force from Syria. David had no choice but to order his men, led by Joab, to go against them in battle. Joab showed great faith and strength of character when he encouraged his soldiers to put forth their greatest effort so that God's Name would be lifted up; he encouraged them to stand strong, surrender to God's will, and trust that He would intervene on their behalf to do whatever seemed good in His sight. The soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ is similarly exhorted to "work out your own salvation... for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13).
It was God's good pleasure to give His people the victory. He also gave Joab the wisdom to plan their strategy and gave the Israelites the strength required to defeat a great foe. The Ammonites retreated to the fortified city of Rabbah (present day Amman, Jordan), and the Syrians surrendered to Israel and became a vassal (a subjugated, tribute-paying nation). It was too late in the year to lay seige to the city, so Joab returned victoriously to Jerusalem and planned the seige of Rabbah in the spring, after the rainy season. When this city fell to the Israelites, they claimed much spoil, including a magnificent crown for David made of gold and gems.
The chronicler often omits details that we read of in the parallel accounts in the books of Samuel and Kings. He is writing the history as it relates to the nation as a whole, the priesthood, and the nation's worship of God. He does not record the sin of David and Bathsheba which occurred at this point, when David did not go out to war with Joab but stayed home in Jerusalem (20:1; 2 Samuel 11:2-27). This may have been because the details of this story were common knowledge, or possibly because it had a personal bearing upon David. This story may also have been omitted simply because the inspired writer was not moved upon to write about it. Could it be that the omission was meant to express the forgiveness of God? We know David sincerely repented, and God forgives and forgets.
Before the close of chapter 20, we read of other noteworthy victories of David and his mighty men. Three relatives of Goliath (a brother and two sons), who were also giant Philistine warriors, were courageously slain. No foe is too great for the one who has the living, all-powerful God on his side.
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