Wouldn't It Have Been Easier To Simply Say "I'm Sorry"?

2 Samuel 10:1-6(NKJV)

1It happened after this that the king of the people of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 

2Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by the hand of his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. 

3And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Has David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?”

4Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. 

5When they told David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”

6When the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive to David, the people of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand foot soldiers; and from the king of Maacah one thousand men, and from Ish-Tob twelve thousand men. 

Why is it that we as humans have a tendency to escalate things all out of proportion?

One of the things that I like about David is that he remembers those that have helped him in the past and he tries to return or repay that kindness.  In this case however his kindness is met with suspicion.  So much so that Hanun ends up shaming David's messengers.

Now I've got to admit that the Bible has a certain flair for this kind of stuff.  Hanun shaved off half of each person's beard and then cut the seat of their pants out so their butts are showing.  I just get such a kick out of that.  This is the Bible we are talking about here, the inspired Word of God, and we find this in there?  God has a great sense of humor in my opinion.

But then look what happens.  When the people of Ammon see that they have really ticked David off, what do they do?  They go out and hire over 20,000 people and prepare for war, and tens of thousands of people die.

Wouldn't it have been easier to just apologize?