דברי הימים א, פרק י״ט, פסוק ג׳

When a neighboring ruler extends a gesture of goodwill during a time of mourning, it is typically received with gratitude. However, the Ammonite princes plant deep suspicions in the heart of their new king, Hanun, framing King David's condolence mission as a calculated trick. They challenge Hanun's perception, asking if he truly believes that these messengers were sent out of genuine respect for his late father. To solidify their argument, the princes rely on the Torah. They remind the king that Israelite law explicitly forbids seeking the peace and welfare of the Ammonites. Therefore, they argue, it is completely unthinkable that David would violate God's Commandment simply to honor Hanun's father or offer comfort [רש״י].

The primary approach among commentators is that the princes present the diplomatic mission as a mere cover for espionage and intelligence gathering [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They warn that David's servants have arrived to conduct a deep, penetrating investigation of the territory. The princes describe this scouting effort as an attempt to completely turn over the land, comparing the men to someone who flips an object from side to side to examine every hidden detail [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Ultimately, these calculated arguments hit their mark. Hanun is fully convinced by the accusations and accepts them as fact without ever attempting to verify the truth [ביאור שטיינזלץ].