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2 Samuel 10:3-5
New Catholic Bible
2 Samuel 10:3-5
New Catholic Bible
3 the Ammonite princes said to their lord Hanun: “Do you truly believe that David means to honor your father just because he has sent envoys to express their condolences to you? Is it not far more likely that he has sent them to be spies so that they may explore and reconnoiter the city and thus be better prepared to overthrow it?”
4 Thereupon Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved off half of their beards, cut away the lower half of their garments up to their hips, and then sent them away.[a] 5 When David was informed about how they had been treated, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated, and to instruct them: “Remain in Jericho until your beards have grown again, and then return.”
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- 2 Samuel 10:4 A full beard was the mark of adulthood and authority for an Israelite male, and shaving David’s men was grossly offensive and demanded retribution on the Ammonites.
