Shobach

Biblical Record

Shobach appears in 2 Samuel 10 and 1 Chronicles 19. Both books record the same event, and the name occurs twice in each, for a total of four times.

The war began when Hanun, king of Ammon, humiliated the envoys David had sent to offer condolences (2 Samuel 10:1–5). The Ammonites hired Aramean troops to fight Israel but were defeated by Joab and Abishai. Hadarezer, king of Zobah, then summoned "the Syrians that were beyond the river." The river here is generally understood to be the Euphrates. Second Samuel records that this army came to Helam, and both accounts state that Shobach, the captain of Hadarezer's host (that is, his military commander), led them (2 Samuel 10:16; 1 Chronicles 19:16).

David gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and engaged them in battle. The Aramean army was routed and fled, and Shobach was killed in the fighting (2 Samuel 10:18; 1 Chronicles 19:18). Afterward, the kings who served Hadarezer made peace with Israel, and the Arameans no longer helped the Ammonites (2 Samuel 10:19; 1 Chronicles 19:19). Scripture says nothing about Shobach's origins or any other part of his life.

Significance in Scripture

The defeat and death of Shobach are recorded as the decisive moment at which Aramean power was broken in David's wars with the surrounding nations. This war is presented as part of the process by which David's kingdom extended its territory and influence. Shobach is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Issues

The two accounts differ in certain details. Second Samuel 10:18 reads "the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen," while 1 Chronicles 19:18 reads "seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen." In addition, the Hebrew text spells the name closer to Shobach in 2 Samuel and Shophach in 1 Chronicles, although the Korean Revised Version renders both as "Sobak." The place name Helam appears only in 2 Samuel.

Regarding the numerical differences, those who emphasize biblical inerrancy often attribute them to copyist errors introduced during the transmission of manuscripts or to differences in the method of counting troops. Scholars who give weight to textual criticism (the comparison of manuscripts to reconstruct the original text) regard them as differences that arose in the course of the two books' transmission.

In the Korean Church

Because Shobach is a minor figure, he is rarely treated on his own in Korean church sermons or Sunday school lessons. He is generally mentioned in connection with explanations of David's wars against Ammon and Aram.