"Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return."
2 Samuel 10:4-5 KJV
The Bible times culture is completely different from the culture of this present generation. In those days, men — even great men of God — wore skirts (1 Samuel 15:27), but to wear skirts in this century will amount to the strangest thing ever.
Apart from prophets, even Kings (1 Samuel 24:11) put on skirts. In addition, male adorned themselves with jewelries in such a way that’s unacceptable nowadays.
When Moses didn’t come down from the mountain on time, the children of Israel compelled Aaron to make a god for them. To dance to their tune, he requested the earrings on the ears of their wives, daughters and sons (Exodus 32:2). Surprisingly, their sons contributed earrings.
Without much ado, keeping beard was an important part of the culture of Israel during the reign of King David, even before David was born.
Most Christians look down on people — sometimes judge — based on their outward appearance. No wonder the first man to occupy the office of a prophet in Israel — Samuel — made the mistake of choosing wrongly when God instructed him to anoint one of the sons of Jesse as king in order to replace the rejected King (Saul). When he saw Eliab, he thought that was God’s choice because he was tall: God doesn’t look at the outward appearance.
So, don’t be too quick to judge people based on their look. Who would have thought keeping beards was not ungodly act?
David sent some of his servants to the newly elected King in Amnon. He sent them to deliver his goodwill message to Hanun that he would extend his kindness to him due to his father’s kind gesture. Unfortunately, King of Amnon took heed to the wrong advice of the princes of of his people not to allow a relationship between him and David.
To make known his intention, he shaved off half of the beards of all the servants of David ents to him. In no time, David heard that his messengers were on their way coming with half-beard.
As soon as he heard, he went to stop them at Jericho before they entered the city. He instructed them never to enter until their beards were fully grown.
For not allowing them to enter the city shows how important keeping this kind of hair was in the land of Israel.
According to some Bible scholars, only slaves were not allowed to grow or keep beards.
For anyone not to keep beards was a shameful act. No wonder the messengers were ashamed after they arrived. To buttress this point, read 1 Samuel 21:10-13, you will realize the man after God’s own heart, the greatest psalmist, one of the greatest Bible prophets — David — had it.
When Saul wanted to kill him, he ran to Gath. Immediately he discovered the king — Achish — he ran to was an enemy; he pretended to be mad. In fact, he made his spit dropped down his mouth over his beard. If someone God loved so much had it, who are we to judge by appearance.
Have you come across men of God who keep beards? How do you feel in their presence? Lastly, can you attend a church that is overseered by a pastor who has beard?
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