שמואל ב, פרק י׳, פסוק א׳

The death of a foreign ruler and the succession of his son often bring sudden shifts in international alliances. The passing of the Ammonite king and the rise of his son Hanun mark exactly such a turning point in the foreign relations of David's kingdom. The timeline of these events does not necessarily follow immediately after the preceding stories involving Mephibosheth. Instead, the narrative simply shifts to a completely new and unrelated subject [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

In response to the change in Ammonite leadership, David decides to send a delegation to comfort the new king. This gesture is driven by a deep sense of gratitude for a profound kindness the late ruler had shown David in the past. According to the Midrash, this past favor involved the rescue of one of David's brothers. Years earlier, David had entrusted his parents and brothers to the care of the king of Moab for their protection. Tragically, the Moabite king betrayed this trust and murdered David's father, mother, and most of his brothers. Only one brother managed to escape the massacre, and it was the king of Ammon who granted the fleeing brother refuge and saved his life [אברבנאל].