1 And after H310 this it came to pass, that David H1732 smote H5221 the Philistines, H6430 and subdued H3665 them: and David H1732 took H3947 Methegammah H4965 out of the hand H3027 of the Philistines. H6430
2 And he smote H5221 Moab, H4124 and measured H4058 them with a line, H2256 casting them down H7901 to the ground; H776 even with two H8147 lines H2256 measured H4058 he to put to death, H4191 and with one full H4393 line H2256 to keep alive. H2421 And so the Moabites H4124 became David's H1732 servants, H5650 and brought H5375 gifts. H4503
3 David H1732 smote H5221 also Hadadezer, H1909 the son H1121 of Rehob, H7340 king H4428 of Zobah, H6678 as he went H3212 to recover H7725 his border H3027 at the river H5104 Euphrates. H6578
4 And David H1732 took H3920 from him a thousand H505 chariots, and seven H7651 hundred H3967 horsemen, H6571 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 footmen: H376 H7273 and David H1732 houghed H6131 all the chariot H7393 horses, but reserved H3498 of them for an hundred H3967 chariots. H7393
5 And when the Syrians H758 of Damascus H1834 came H935 to succour H5826 Hadadezer H1909 king H4428 of Zobah, H6678 David H1732 slew H5221 of the Syrians H758 two H8147 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 men. H376
6 Then David H1732 put H7760 garrisons H5333 in Syria H758 of Damascus: H1834 and the Syrians H758 became servants H5650 to David, H1732 and brought H5375 gifts. H4503 And the LORD H3068 preserved H3467 David H1732 whithersoever he went. H1980
7 And David H1732 took H3947 the shields H7982 of gold H2091 that were on the servants H5650 of Hadadezer, H1909 and brought H935 them to Jerusalem. H3389
8 And from Betah, H984 and from Berothai, H1268 cities H5892 of Hadadezer, H1909 king H4428 David H1732 took H3947 exceeding H3966 much H7235 brass. H5178
9 When Toi H8583 king H4428 of Hamath H2574 heard H8085 that David H1732 had smitten H5221 all the host H2428 of Hadadezer, H1909
10 Then Toi H8583 sent H7971 Joram H3141 his son H1121 unto king H4428 David, H1732 to salute H7592 H7965 him, and to bless H1288 him, because he had fought H3898 against Hadadezer, H1909 and smitten H5221 him: for Hadadezer H1909 had wars H376 H4421 with Toi. H8583 And Joram brought with him H3027 vessels H3627 of silver, H3701 and vessels H3627 of gold, H2091 and vessels H3627 of brass: H5178
11 Which also king H4428 David H1732 did dedicate H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 with the silver H3701 and gold H2091 that he had dedicated H6942 of all nations H1471 which he subdued; H3533
12 Of Syria, H758 and of Moab, H4124 and of the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and of the Philistines, H6430 and of Amalek, H6002 and of the spoil H7998 of Hadadezer, H1909 son H1121 of Rehob, H7340 king H4428 of Zobah. H6678
13 And David H1732 gat H6213 him a name H8034 when he returned H7725 from smiting H5221 of the Syrians H758 in the valley H1516 of salt, H4417 being eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men.
14 And he put H7760 garrisons H5333 in Edom; H123 throughout all Edom H123 put H7760 he garrisons, H5333 and all they of Edom H123 became David's H1732 servants. H5650 And the LORD H3068 preserved H3467 David H1732 whithersoever he went. H1980
15 And David H1732 reigned H4427 over all Israel; H3478 and David H1732 executed H6213 judgment H4941 and justice H6666 unto all his people. H5971
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 8
Commentary on 2 Samuel 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
2Sa 8:1, 2. David Subdues the Philistines, and Makes the Moabites Tributary.
1. David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines—that is, Gath and her suburban towns (1Ch 18:1). That town had been "a bridle" by which the Philistines kept the people of Judah in check. David used it now as a barrier to repress that restless enemy.
2. he smote Moab, and measured them with a line—This refers to a well-known practice of Eastern kings, to command their prisoners of war, particularly those who, notorious for the atrocity of their crimes or distinguished by the indomitable spirit of their resistance, had greatly incensed the victors, to lie down on the ground. Then a certain portion of them, which was determined by lot, but most commonly by a measuring-line, were put to death. Our version makes him put two-thirds to death, and spare one-third. The Septuagint and Vulgate make one-half. This war usage was not, perhaps, usually practised by the people of God; but Jewish writers assert that the cause of this particular severity against this people was their having massacred David's parents and family, whom he had, during his exile, committed to the king of Moab.
2Sa 8:3-14. He Smites Hadadezer and the Syrians.
3. Zobah—(1Ch 18:3). This kingdom was bounded on the east by the Euphrates, and it extended westward from that river, perhaps as far north as Aleppo. It was long the chief among the petty kingdoms of Syria, and its king bore the hereditary title of "Hadadezer" or "Hadarezer" ("Hadad," that is, "helped").
as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates—in accordance with the promises God made to Israel that He would give them all the country as far as the Euphrates (Ge 15:18; Nu 24:17). In the first campaign David signally defeated Hadadezer. Besides a great number of foot prisoners, he took from him an immense amount of booty in chariots and horses. Reserving only a small number of the latter, he hamstrung the rest. The horses were thus mutilated because they were forbidden to the Hebrews, both in war and agriculture. So it was of no use to keep them. Besides, their neighbors placed much dependence on cavalry, but having, for want of a native breed, to procure them by purchase, the greatest damage that could be done to such enemies was to render their horses unserviceable in war. (See also Ge 46:6; Jos 11:6, 9). A king of Damascene-Syria came to Hadadezer's succor; but David routed those auxiliary forces also, took possession of their country, put garrisons into their fortified towns, and made them tributary.
9. Toi king of Hamath—Cœle-Syria; northwards, it extended to the city Hamath on the Orontes, which was the capital of the country. The Syrian prince, being delivered from the dread of a dangerous neighbor, sent his son with valuable presents to David to congratulate him on his victories, and solicit his alliance and protection.
10. Joram—or Hadoram (1Ch 18:10).
11. Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord—Eastern princes have always been accustomed to hoard up vast quantities of gold. This is the first instance of a practice uniformly followed by David of reserving, after defraying expenses and bestowing suitable rewards upon his soldiers, the remainder of the spoil taken in war, to accumulate for the grand project of his life—the erection of a national temple at Jerusalem.
13. David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians—Instead of Syrians, the Septuagint version reads "Edomites," which is the true reading, as is evident from 2Sa 8:14. This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the skilful generalship and gallantry of Abishai and Joab. (1Ch 18:12; compare Ps 60:1, title.) The valley was the ravine of salt (the Ghor), adjoining the Salt Mountain, at the southwestern extremity of the Dead Sea, separating the ancient territories of Judah and Edom [Robinson].
2Sa 8:15-18. His Reign.
15. David executed judgment and justice unto all his people—Though involved in foreign wars, he maintained an excellent system of government at home, the most eminent men of the age composing his cabinet of ministers.
16. Joab … was over the host—by virtue of a special promise (2Sa 5:8).
recorder—historiographer or daily annalist, an office of great trust and importance in Eastern countries.
17. Zadok … and Ahimelech … were the priests—On the massacre of the priests at Nob, [1Sa 22:19], Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of Eleazar (1Ch 6:50), while David acknowledged Ahimelech, of Ithamar's family, who fled to him. The two high priests exercised their office under the respective princes to whom they were attached. But, on David's obtaining the kingdom over all Israel, they both retained their dignity; Ahimelech officiating at Jerusalem, and Zadok at Gibeon (1Ch 16:39).
18. Cherethites—that is, Philistines (Zep 2:5).
Pelethites—from Pelet (1Ch 12:3). They were the valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the Philistines, were made his bodyguard.