METHEG-AMMAH] RV 'the bridle of the mother city.' This is supposed to mean 'the authority of the capital,' namely, Gath (cp. 1 Chronicles 18:1). Many take it, however, as the name (perhaps corrupted) of a place which David took from the Philistines. RM retains Metheg-ammah.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID'S VICTORIES, AND A LIST OF HIS OFFICERS This chapter concludes this account of David's reign. The remainder of the book is taken from a different source.... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTING THEM DOWN TO THE GROUND] RV 'making them to lie down on the ground.' David then slew two out of every three. The reason for this severity is not known. GIFTS] Moab continued tributary till the death of Ahab (2 Kings 3:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
HADADEZER] i.e. 'Hadad is a help': cp. Eliezer, Joezer, Azariah. Hadad was the supreme god of Syria. In 2 Samuel 10:16 his name is given more correctly as Hadarezer. ZOBAH] a Syrian kingdom, whose territory seems to have lain N. of Damascus and not far from the Euphrates. TO RECOVER HIS BORDER] Chro... [ Continue Reading ]
A THOUSAND _chariots,_ AND SEVEN HUNDRED HORSEMEN] RV 'a thousand and seven hundred horsemen.'... [ Continue Reading ]
DAMASCUS] is situated 'in a plain of vast size and extreme fertility, which lies east of the great chain of Anti-Libanus, on the edge of the Desert.' It has always been one of the most important cities of Syria. It succeeded in throwing off the yoke of Israel in the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 11:24).... [ Continue Reading ]
SYRIA OF DAMASCUS] The phrase indicates the small Aramæan states in the regions of Damascus.... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEEDING MUCH BRASS] i.e. copper. It is said that the Egyptians of the 18th and 19th dynasties got so much copper from Syria that they gave up working the mines on Mt. Sinai.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAMATH] on the Orontes.... [ Continue Reading ]
JORAM] LXX 'Jeddoram,' Chronicles 'Hadoram.' A Jewish scribe has probably altered Hadoram to the more familiar Joram. 12, 13. SYRIA.. SYRIANS] LXX and Chronicles (1 Chronicles 18:12) rightly read 'Edom,' 'Edomites.' 15-18. These vv. are intended by the author to form the conclusion of his history... [ Continue Reading ]
ZADOK.. AND ABIMELECH.. _were_ THE PRIESTS] Zadok seems to have become chief priest under Saul: David had his own high priest, Abiathar. He solved the resulting difficulty by dividing the office between them. But for the prompt action of Joab, he would probably have divided the command of the army b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHERETHITES AND THE PELETHITES] see on 1 Samuel 30:14; They formed part of David's foreign bodyguard. CHIEF RULERS] RV 'priests.' There can be no doubt that the translation of RV is CORRECT, for the word has never any other meaning than that of 'priests.' But it is far from clear what were the p... [ Continue Reading ]