_A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040._ David subdues the Philistines and Moabites, 2 Samuel 8:1; 2 Samuel 8:2. Smites Hadadezer, and the Syrians, 2 Samuel 8:3. Dedicates the presents he had received and the spoils to God, 2 Samuel 8:9. Conquers the Syrians again, and the Edomites, 2 Samuel 8:13; 2 Samuel 8:14. Hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_David smote the Philistines, and subdued them_ In the beginning of his reign they had invaded Israel twice, and were successfully repulsed. But now David invaded their country, made a conquest of it, and brought it under subjection to the Israelites. _David took Metheg-ammah_ That is, _Gath and her... [ Continue Reading ]
_He smote Moab_ For although the king of Moab, out of hatred to Saul, gave protection to David's parents, 1 Samuel 22:3; yet the Moabites were perpetual and sworn enemies to the Israelites, who therefore were forbidden to admit them _into the congregation of the Lord._ God indeed commanded the Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
_King of Zobah_ Zobah was a part of Syria, whose eastern border was Euphrates, as the western was the land of Canaan, and the kingdom of Damascus. _As he went to recover his border_ That is, as David went to extend the limits of his kingdom toward the river Euphrates, he smote this king, who probabl... [ Continue Reading ]
_David took from him a thousand chariots_ The word chariot is not in the Hebrew, but is well supplied by our translators from 1 Chronicles 18:4, in which book many things are explained which are briefly related here; _seven hundred horsemen_ Or rather, seven hundred companies of horsemen, that is, i... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Syrians of Damascus_ That is, that were subject to Damascus, the chief city of Syria. _Put garrisons in Syria of Damascus_ Hebrew, in _Aram Damasek._ This was that part of Syria which lay between Libanus and Antilibanus. _The Syrians brought gifts_ By way of tribute, in token of their subjectio... [ Continue Reading ]
_The shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer_ It hath been the practice of many princes to make the arms of their soldiers ornamental and precious, partly from the love of splendour and magnificence, and partly to influence the courage of those, that carried them: since nothing else c... [ Continue Reading ]
_From Betah_, &c. In 1 Chronicles 18:8, it is, from Tibhath, and from Chun. Either therefore the same cities were called by several names, as is usual, the one by the Hebrews, the other by the Syrians; or those were two other cities, and so the brass was taken out of these four cities.... [ Continue Reading ]
_King of Hamath_ This city was also in Syria, and lay north of Judea. _To salute him, and bless him_ To congratulate him on his good success in the war with Hadadezer, and to wish him continued prosperity. _Joram brought with him vessels_, &c. As a present to King David, whose friendship he sought b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Throughout all Edom put he garrisons_ Having conquered the whole country, he garrisoned the strongest places in it with his own men, to keep them in subjection to him. Some of the Jews interpret these words, _He put captains_, or _commanders, in Edom_, that is, great men to govern them, and, as his... [ Continue Reading ]
_David reigned over all Israel_ He has no disturbance at home, while he was engaged in wars abroad: but all Israel obeyed him. _And David executed judgment and justice_ That is, either, 1st, Having now finished his foreign wars, he applied himself to the civil government of his people, according to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jehoshaphat was recorder_ That is, _the remembrancer_, or _writer of chronicles_, as is generally thought; “an employment,” says Dr. Delaney, “of no mean estimation in the eastern world, where it was customary with kings to keep daily registers of all the transactions of their reigns; and a trust w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests_ That is, as some think, Zadok was the high-priest, and Ahimelech his sagan or vicar; or, according to others, neither of these was the high-priest, but they were both only the vicars of Abiathar, and heads of the sacerdotal families, the _second priests_, to us... [ Continue Reading ]
_Benaiah_, &c. Benaiah was one of David's three worthies of the second order; eminent for many great exploits, of which three only are recounted by the sacred historian. _Was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites_ These were undoubtedly soldiers of some kind, and even such as were eminent for... [ Continue Reading ]