Tidings were received at Jerusalem announcing the death of Nahash, king of the Ammonites--a monarch who had shown kindness to David when he was a fugitive from the rage of Saul. Now, desiring to express his grateful appreciation of the favor shown him in his distress, David sent ambassadors with a message of sympathy to Hanun, the son and successor of the Ammonite king. "Said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me."

I Jerusalem fik man meddelelse om, at ammonitternes konge Nahasj var død. Denne monark havde været venlig imod David, da han flygtede for Sauls vrede. Som et udtryk for sin taknemmelighed over den venlighed, som denne konge havde vist ham i hans store nød, lod David sine sendebud overbringe ammonitterkongens søn og efterfølger, Hanun, et kondolencebudskab. "Da tænkte David: "Jeg vil vise Hanan, Nahasjs søn, venlighed, ligesom hans fader viste mig venlighed."