2 Samuel 8:4

_AND DAVID TOOK FROM HIM A THOUSAND CHARIOTS, AND SEVEN HUNDRED HORSEMEN, AND TWENTY THOUSAND FOOTMEN: AND DAVID HOUGHED ALL THE CHARIOT HORSES, BUT RESERVED OF THEM FOR AN HUNDRED CHARIOTS._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

Verse 2 Samuel 8:4. _A THOUSAND_ CHARIOTS] It is strange that there were a _thousand chariots_, and only _seven hundred horsemen_ taken, and twenty thousand foot. But as the discomfiture appears complete, we may suppose that the _chariots_, being less manageable, might be more easily taken, while the _horsemen_ might, in general, make their escape. The _infantry_ also seem to have been surrounded, when twenty thousand of them were taken prisoners. _DAVID HOUGHED ALL THE CHARIOT HORSES_] If he did so, it was both unreasonable and inhuman; for, as he had so complete a victory, there was no danger of these horses falling into the enemy's hands; and if he did not choose to keep them, which indeed the law would not permit, he should have killed them outright; and then the poor innocent creatures would have been put out of pain. But

SEVEN HUNDRED HORSEMEN - It should be seven thousand, as in 1 Chronicles 18:4....

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 TOOK FROM HIM A THOUSAND [CHARIOTS], AND SEVEN HUNDRED HORSEMEN,.... "Chariots" are not in the text here, it is only 1700 "horsemen"; but it is supplied from 1 Chronicles 18:4; where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand as in the Septuagint version here, and in Josephus m; which may be reconciled by observing, with Kimchi and Abarbinel, that here the chief officers are meant, there all the chariots and horsemen that were under their command are mentioned, which together made up that large number; or else here are meant the ranks and companies of horse David took, which were seven hundred; and these having ten in a company or rank, made seven thousand; and there the complement of soldiers in those companies and ranks are intended: AND TWENTY THOUSAND FOOTMEN; the same as in...

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

SEVEN HUNDRED. = 1Ch 18:47. 1 Chronicles 18. but Hebrew. =. and. = 700 are easily mistaken one for the other. See note on 1 Kings 4:26. [f and. represent Hebrew characters]...

Conquest of Zobah and Damascus 3. _Hadadezer_ This name is written _Hadarezer_in ch. 2 Samuel 10:16-19, and in Chronicles, the letters _d_(ד) and _r_(ר) being easily confused in Hebrew. _Hadad_was the name of the Syrian sun-god, and _Hadadezer_appears to be the true form, meaning "whose help is Hadad." _Zobah_ The exact position and limits of this kingdom are undetermined. It seems to have been north-east of Damascus and south of Hamath, between the Orontes and Euphrates. Saul waged wars with its "kings," who were probably independent chieftains (1 Samuel 14:47), but now it was consolidated under one ruler, and was a country of considerable wealth and power. _to recover his border_ The phrase cannot be thus rendered, but means probabl

A THOUSAND CHARIOTS— The word _chariots,_ though not in the Hebrew, is rightly supplied from the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 18:4. Instead of _seven hundred horsemen,_ says Houbigant, I read also as in the parallel place _seven thousand,_ for the horses were always more than the chariots. These are in the number of those parts of the sacred writings, which to my apprehension demonstrate their divine origin. It is utterly abhorrent from all the principles of human policy, to make either creatures or utensils, when once become our own secure property, either wholly useless, or less useful to all the purposes for which either human contrivance has fitted, or Providence appointed them; and therefore David's burning so many chariots, and maiming so many horses taken from the enemy in battle, could only arise from a principle of obedience to the commands of Almighty God, e