Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Samuel 10:6

"And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men." — 2 Samuel 10:6 (ASV)

Stank — This is a strong figure of speech, meaning to be odious or detested. Compare the marginal references.

The Syrians of Beth-rehob — If this group is identical to the Mesopotamians of 1 Chronicles 19:6, then Beth-rehob is the same as Rehoboth by the river (Genesis 36:37). Others think Beth-rehob (also called Rehob in 2 Samuel 10:8) is the same as the Rehob and Beth-rehob of Numbers 13:21, near Hamath (perhaps the modern ruin of Hunin). If this is the case, Beth-rehob, as well as Tob, must have been a colony of Aram Naharaim (compare the numbers in 1 Chronicles 19:7 with those mentioned here).

Syrians of Zoba — Compare the note on 1 Samuel 14:47.

King Maacah — This should be read as “the king of Maacah” (1 Chronicles 19:6–7). For the location of Maacah, see Deuteronomy 3:14 and Joshua 12:5. It appears to have been a very small state, since its king only brought a thousand men into the field.

Ish-tob — See the marginal note, which indicates this means “the men of Tob.” Tob was the district where Jephthah fled after being driven out by the Gileadites.