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2 Samuel 10 · a question people ask

Is Hanun's father the Nahash of 1 Samuel 11? And what kindness had he shown David?

In the text

Hanun is "the son of Nahash" (10:2), and his father was "the king of the children of Ammon" (10:1). 1 Samuel told of "Nahash the Ammonite" (1 Samuel 11:1), who came against Jabesh Gilead just after Saul was chosen king (1 Samuel 10:24, 11:1), and Samuel called him "Nahash the king of the children of Ammon" (1 Samuel 12:12). So the name and the title are the same. The Bible doesn't say in so many words that they are one man, and it doesn't say how long Nahash reigned. Nor does it say what kindness Nahash showed David, or when: David says only, "as his father showed kindness to me" (10:2), and Chronicles, telling the same day, "because his father showed kindness to me" (1 Chronicles 19:2). Anything more would be a guess, so these notes leave it there.

The verses

“After this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.”
2 Samuel 10:1-2 · World English Bible
“Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.””
1 Samuel 11:1 · World English Bible
“Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen, that there is no one like him among all the people?” All the people shouted and said, “Long live the king!””
1 Samuel 10:24 · World English Bible
““When you saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the LORD your God was your king.”
1 Samuel 12:12 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Samuel 10

2 Samuel 10: Kindness refused

Joab's words before the battle, "may the LORD do what seems good to him" (10:12), are in Hebrew the same four words Eli said when he heard the LORD's judgment on his house (1 Samuel 3:18), and David says nearly the same of himself as he flees Absalom (15:26).

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Last reviewed September 27, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions