2 Samuel 8:13

_AND DAVID GAT HIM A NAME WHEN HE RETURNED FROM SMITING OF THE SYRIANS IN THE VALLEY OF SALT, BEING EIGHTEEN THOUSAND MEN._ Returned from smiting of the Syrians, х_ 'ET_ (H854) _ 'ARAAM_ (H758). Instead of Syrians, the Septuagint version has Edomites, the Septuagint having read _ 'EDOWM_ (H123) (1 Chronicles 18:12), which is the true, reading, as is evident from 2 Samuel 8:14 (see Davidson's 'Hebrew Text of the Old Testament,' in loco.)] This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the skillful generalship and gallantry of Ahishai and Joab ...

9-14 All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. The idols of gold David destroyed, 2 Samuel 5:21, but the vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus, in the conquest of a soul by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust must be mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated; thus the property of it is altered. God employs his servants in various ways; some, as David, in spiritual battles; others, as Solomon, in spiritual buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the glory of all....

Verse 2 Samuel 8:13. _DAVID GAT_ HIM _A NAME_] Became a very celebrated and eminent man. The Targum has it, _David collected troops_; namely, to _recruit_ his army when he returned from smiting the Syrians. His many battles had no doubt greatly thinned his army. _THE VALLEY OF SALT_] Supposed to be a large plain abounding in this mineral, about a league from the city of _Palmyra_ or Tadmor in the wilderness....

THE SYRIANS - Read the Edomites, as in marginal references (compare Psalms 60:1 title), and as the context 2 Samuel 8:14 requires. For a further account of this war of extermination with Edom, see 1 Kings 11:15. The war with Edom was of some duration, not without serious reverses and dangers to the Israelites (2 Samuel 8:2 note). The different accounts probably relate to different parts of the campaign....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 8:1 DAVID SMOTE THE PHILISTINES. In the previous chapter we have seen that the empire of David not only marked an era in the development of Israel nationally, but was also the reaching of a new stage in the preparation for the advent of the Messiah; and we saw that without this the development of prophecy would have been impossible, and the people have remained unfit for the high mission to which they were called as the witnesses to the unity of Cod. We have in this chapter a brief summary of the wars which raised Israel from the position of a struggling and oppressed race to the possession of widespread empire. With this narrative the first history of David ends, and in the subsequent narratives many of the events referred to here are more fully detailed, and given with additional incidents. David took Metheg-

AND DAVID GAT [HIM] A NAME,.... Fame and reputation in the several nations of the world for valour and courage, for the many and signal victories that he obtained; the Jewish writers generally refer this to his humanity in burying the dead bodies of his enemies slain in war, which gained him great esteem among all, and even his very enemies; but nothing of that kind is pointed at here, but his conquests: or "he made himself a name"; erected a triumphal arch b in memory of his victories: WHEN HE RETURNED FROM SMITING OF THE SYRIANS IN THE VALLEY OF SALT, [BEING] EIGHTEEN THOUSAND [MEN]; in the relation of this fact in different places some difficulties arise, both as to the people smitten, and their numbers, and by whom; in this place they are said to be Syrians, but in 1 Chronicles 18:12, and in the title of...

5. THE EXTENSION OF HIS KINGDOM CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The Philistines and Moab smitten (2 Samuel 8:1)_ 2. Hadadezer overthrown (2 Samuel 8:3) 3. Further conquests and triumphs (2 Samuel 8:9) 4. David's reign and his associates (2 Samuel 8:15) Great conquests and victories follow. David arose from the presence of the Lord to go forth to conquer. With such a message he had heard, assuring him of the Lord's presence and power, of the success of his kingdom, he began to extend his kingdom over the different nations which surrounded the land. The Lord was with him and preserved him withersoever he went

2 SAMUEL 8. DAVID'S VICTORIES. HIS MINISTERS (D). A concluding summary, corresponding to the similar section on Saul (1 Samuel 14:47 ff.) and by the same hand. Apparently it formed the conclusion of an early edition of the Book of Samuel. It includes material and information from earlier sources. 2 SAMUEL 8:1. David subdues the Philistines, Moabites, and Syrians. 2 SAMUEL 8:1. THE BRIDLE OF THE MOTHER CITY: the text is hopelessly corrupt. 2 Samuel 8:2. Two-thirds were put to death. 2 Samuel 8:3. Appare

GAT HIM. made himself. SMITING. his smiting. This is David's exploit. In 1 Chronicles 18:3; 1 Chronicles 18:12 it is Abishai's command, while in title of Psalms 60 (Psalms 60:1) it is Joab's share in the campaign (1 Kings 11:16). EIGHTEEN THOUSAND. This is the total. Joab's share was 12,000, and took six months longer. Compare 1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings

Conquest of Edom 13. _gat_him _a name_ Won renown. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 7:9. This, and not "erected a monument," as some render, is the right meaning. _when he returned from smiting of the Syrians_ The text is certainly corrupt. Chr. reads, "And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote Edom in the valley of salt, (to the number of) eighteen thousand men." The Sept. has, "And David made a name: and as he returned he smote Edom in Gebelem [a corrupt transliteration of the words meaning _valley of salt_ to the number of eighteen thousand." Moreover the Valley of Salt was nowhere in the neighbourhood of Syria, but on the ancient border between Judah and Edom, to the S. of the Dead Sea. It was the scene of Amaziah's victory over the Edomites (2 Kings 14:7). We must therefore either adopt the Sep