Definition: And 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 Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 1 Chronicles 19:6. It's a pretty dramatic statement about a planned invasion! Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a massive, coordinated effort to defeat David and his army. The Ammonites – a group of people from the region of Ammon – were planning an attack on David’s kingdom. They weren't just going to fight; they were going to prepare for a huge assault with a powerful force. Let's unpack it: “And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David…” – This is key. “Odious” means unpleasant, irritating, or troublesome. The Ammonites were deliberately trying to make things difficult for David and his people. They weren’t just being friendly; they were actively creating a problem. “…Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver…” – "Talents" are large units of currency in ancient times (think gold or silver). A talent was roughly equivalent to 16 ounces of precious metal. So, they were sending a thousand of these coins! This is a huge amount of money – enough to buy a significant number of horses and chariots. "...to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah." – This specifies where they were sending the money. They were sending it to several locations: Mesopotamia: A region in modern-day Iraq (the area near present-day Baghdad). Syriamaachah: A small city or region in northern Syria. Zobah: A place in modern-day Lebanon. So, what does it all mean? It means the Ammonites were determined to completely overwhelm David's forces and take control of the region. They were building a formidable army with a massive financial investment – a whole thousand talents! It’s a clear indication that they weren’t just hoping for a skirmish; they were aiming for a full-scale war. In short, it paints a picture of aggressive planning and a significant military effort to challenge David's authority. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this verse in more detail? For example, would you like to know: What was the significance of "talents"? Why did they send them to multiple locations?