In ancient times, as now, the office of ambassador was held sacred. By the universal law of nations it ensured protection from personal violence or insult. The ambassador standing as a representative of his sovereign, any indignity offered to him demanded 715 prompt retaliation. The Ammonites, knowing that the insult offered to Israel would surely be avenged, made preparation for war. "When the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syria-maachah, and out of Zobah. So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots. . . . And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle." 1 Chronicles 19:6, 7.

Det var et vældigt forbund, Israel stod over for. Befolkningen i egnen mellem Eufratfloden og Middelhavet havde sluttet sig sammen med ammonitterne. Det nordlige og østlige Kanaan var indesluttet af bevæbnede fjender, som havde sluttet sig sammen for at knuse det israelitiske rige.