2Sa 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
And after this it came to pass - After David had rest from his enemies for a time, and after the conversation he had had with Nathan about building the house of God, and after the message sent to him from the Lord by that prophet, forbidding him to build, and David's prayer to the Lord upon it, the following events happened; and which are recorded to show that David's rest from his enemies did not last long, and that he had other work to do than to build the house of God:
that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them - these had been long and implacable enemies of Israel; Samson began to weaken them in his days; a war was waged between them and Israel in the times of Samuel and Saul, and the battle sometimes went on one side and sometimes on the other; but now David made an entire conquest of them: before they had used to come into the land of Israel, and there fight with Israel, but now David entered into their land, and took it from them:
David took Metheg-ammah - Metheg-ammah must be the name of some stronghold which commanded Gath , and the taking of which made David master of Gath and her towns.
David took Metheg-ammah - This is variously translated. David removed the bondage of the tribute, which the Israelites paid to the Philistines. Some think it means a fortress, city, or strong town; but no such place as Metheg-ammah is known.
David took Metheg-ammah - the name of a province in Palestine , and from the parallel place in 1Ch_18:1 And it happened after this, David struck the Philistines and humbled them. And he took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines it appears to be Gath, and its adjacent towns; but why that was called the bridle of Ammah, or the bridle of a cubit, as it may be rendered, is not easy to say. It appears that Gath was built upon an hill called Ammah, 2Sa_2:24 And Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. And the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon; and that it was called Metheg, a bridle, because being a frontier city, and being very strong and powerful, erected into a kingdom, it was a curb and bridle upon the Israelites; but now David taking it out of their hands, opened his way for the more easy subduing the rest of their country: or the word may be rendered Metheg and her mother, that is, Gath, the metropolis, since that and her daughters, or towns, are said to be taken, 1Ch_18:1; and Metheg might be one of them.
David took Metheg-ammah - The simple meaning of the passage is, that David wrested from the Philistines the power which the capital had possessed over the towns dependent upon it, over the whole of the land of Philistia ; in other words, he brought the capital ( Gath ) and the other towns of Philistia into his own power.
2Sa 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
David took great numbers of the Moabites prisoners of war, and made them lie down on the ground, and then divided them by a measuring line into three parts, putting two-thirds to death, and saving alive one-third. The cause of the war with the Moabites, who had been very friendly with David 1Sa_22:3-4, and of this severe treatment, is not known. But it seems possible, from the tone of Psa_60:1-12 that David had met with some temporary reverse in his Syrian wars, and that the Moabites and Edomites had treacherously taken advantage of it, and perhaps tried to cut off his retreat.
And measured them with a line even with two lines - There are various opinions on this verse. It has been generally conjectured that David, after he had conquered Moab , consigned two-thirds of the inhabitants to the sword. The first clause of the verse seems to determine the sense; he measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground - to put to death, and with one line to keep alive. Death seems here to be referred to the cities by way of metaphor; and, from this view of the subject it can be concluded that two-thirds of the cities, that is, the strong places of Moab, were erased; and not having strong places to trust to, the text adds, So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts, were obliged to pay tribute. The word line may mean the same here as our rod, i.e., the instrument by which land is measured.
And he smote Moab - He next went against that, and invaded it, the people of it being always troublesome and distressing to the children of Israel; and though the king of it had shown some favor to David, yet it was when he considered him as an enemy to Saul, and Saul to him; but things having taken a different turn, his and his people's enmity against David and his people appeared; wherefore he went and fought them, and made them his subjects, whereby was fulfilled the prophecy of Balaam, Num_24:17 I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult as it referred to David:
and brought gifts - paid a yearly tribute to King David, as they afterwards did to Solomon and to Rehoboam, until the revolt of the ten tribes, and then they paid it unto the kings of Israel .
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.
2Sa 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
Hadadezer - He is supposed to have been king of all Syria , except Phoenicia ; being attacked by David, he was totally routed. Hadad was the chief idol, or sun-god, of the Syrians.
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 (Gen_15:18; Num_24:17). David, remembering the grant which God had made to his people of all the land as far as Euphrates, and having subdued his neighboring enemies, went to recover his rights, and establish his dominion as far as Euphrates.
2Sa 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.
Seven hundred horsemen - Or, seven hundred companies of horsemen, that is, in all seven thousand; as it is 1Ch_18:4, there being ten in each company, and each ten having a ruler or captain.
Seven hundred horsemen - It should be seven thousand, as in 1Ch_18:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses , but kept from them a hundred chariots.
Seven hundred horsemen - As 1Ch_18:4 seven hundred. In the parallel place in Chronicles it is "seven thousand horsemen, a far more probable number. The letter ז, zayin, with a dot upon it stands for seven thousand, and the final letter ן, noon , for seven hundred. The great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce a copyist error in this place.
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.
A thousand chariots - "Chariots" are not in the text here, it is only 1700 "horsemen"; but it is supplied from 1Ch_18:4; where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand; which may be reconciled by observing 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:
David houghed all the chariot horses - or hamstrung them, as Joshua was ordered to do with respect to the Canaanites, Jos_11:6 And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up, all killed before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire he did not kill them, which might seem cruel and unmerciful to the brute creatures, but hamstrung them, that they might be useless for war; and the reason of it was, that horses might not be multiplied in Israel for that purpose, that so their trust and confidence might not be placed in them; Deu_17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. 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.
2Sa 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
Syrians of Damascus - The Syrians, whose capital was Damascus , were the best known and most powerful. Damascus is first mentioned in Gen_15:2. According to Nicolaus of Damascus, cited by Josephus, the Syrian king’s name was Hadad.
2Sa 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
Brought gifts - Rather, tribute; meaning they became subject and tributary or paid him tribute by way of homage, acknowledging themselves his subjects.
2Sa 8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
David took the shields of gold - We know not what these were. Some translate arms, others quivers, others bracelets, others collars, and others shields. They were probably costly ornaments by which the Syrian soldiers were decked and distinguished.
brought them to Jerusalem - where they were laid up; Son_4:4 Your neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, on which there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 2Sa_8:11 King David also dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all nations which he subdued: David dedicated to the Lord all the gold and silver that he had taken, put it in the treasury of the sanctuary to be reserved for the future temple, and that at the end of his reign he handed over to his son and successor Solomon all the gold, silver, iron, and brass that he had collected for the purpose, to be applied to the building of the temple (1Ch_22:14., 1Ch_29:2.).
On the servants - And those who are called servants here, were probably the choice troops or body-guard of Hadadezer.
2Sa 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
Betah and Berothai - These names have not been identified with certainty. Which, in 1Ch_18:8, are called Tibhath and Chun.
Exceeding much brass - whereby he was furnished and able to give the large quantity he did for the service of the temple, 1Ch_29:7. The Septuagint and Vulgate versions adds here what is expressed in Ch_18:8,"wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the layers, and all the vessels.'' Ch_18:8 And David brought very much bronze from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
2Sa 8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
Hamath - This appears as an independent kingdom so late as the time of Senacherib Isa_37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? But in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, both Hamath and Arpad appear to have been incorporated in the kingdom of Damascus Jer_49:23 Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news. They are melted; anxiety is in the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Hamath - Which was another small kingdom in Syria , perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer. 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.
2Sa 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
Then Toi sent Joram his son unto King David - The name Toi is written Tou in the Chronicles, according to a different mode of interpretation; and the name of the son is given as Hadoram in the Chronicles, instead of Joram as in the text in the next verse. According to 1Ch_18:3, the territory of the king of Hamath bordered upon that of Hadadezer, and the latter had probably tried to make king Toi submit to him. The secret object of the salutation, however, was no doubt to secure the friendship of this new and powerful neighbor.
2Sa 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
Which also King David did dedicate unto the Lord - He devoted it to sacred uses, particularly to the building of the house of the Lord, as he also had the gold and the brass he took from Hadadezer. He did not convert the spoils he took to his own use, but observed the law God gave to the kings of Israel, that they should not greatly multiply to themselves silver and gold, Deu_17:17 Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself. He set it apart, and laid it up for the service of the sanctuary; and this accounts for the abundance of gold, silver, and brass, which David had amassed together, and left to his son Solomon to build the temple with.
2Sa 8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
Syria - Of Syria of Damascus, as distinct from Syriazobah, Hadadezer was king of, after mentioned; this is omitted in 1Ch_18:11,
and of Amalek - though we have no account of any war of his with that people, since he was king, yet he doubtless had, and had been victorious and spoiled them; see Psa_83:7,
List of nations - These conquests of David, are confirmed by the testimony of Eupolemus, who says that he overcame the Syrians by Euphrates, and the Assyrians in Galadene (or Gilead), and the Phoenicians; that he fought against the Idumeans (or Edomites), the Ammonites, Moabites, Ituraeans, Nabathaeans, and Nabdaeans; also against Syron king of Tyre and Phoenicia; all of whom he obliged to pay tribute to the Jews.
2Sa 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.
The Syrians - the Edomites, (compare Psa_60:1-12 title), and as the context 2Sa_8:14 requires. For a further account of this war of extermination with Edom , see 1Ki_11:15-16. The war with Edom was of some duration, not without serious reverses and dangers to the Israelites. The different accounts probably relate to different parts of the campaign.
David gat him a name - Became a very celebrated and eminent man. Fame and reputation in the several nations of the world for valor and courage.
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 valley of salt - 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
2Sa 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
He put garrisons in Edom - To keep the inhabitants in subjection to him; as their forts and strong holds came into his hands, he placed companies of soldiers in them for the said purpose;
all they of Edom became David's servants - and hereby were fulfilled the oracle delivered to Rebekah, and the prophetic blessing of Isaac, Gen_25:23 And the LORD said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, the older shall serve the younger.
2Sa 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
David reigned over all Israel - Not only over Judah, but over all the tribes of Israel, and over the whole land of Canaan, as promised to Abraham, Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, reaching to the river Euphrates, as Syria did, now conquered by David:
David executed judgment and justice unto all his people - when he returned from his wars, he heard and tried all causes impartially, brought before him, and gave sentence according to the law of God, and administered righteous judgment without any respect to persons, in which he was a type of Christ.
2Sa 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
Recorder - one who kept a strict journal of all the proceedings of the king and operations of his army; a chronicler. Or, remembrancer, or, writer of chronicles.
Recorder - The recorder seems to have been a high officer of state, a kind of chancellor, whose office was to keep a record of the events of the kingdom for the king’s information, and hence, he would naturally be the king’s adviser.
Joab was over the host - General and commander-in-chief over all the army. Which was not only owing to his relation to David, being his sister's son, but to his promise that whoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain; that is, should have the command of the army under him; this Joab did; and so was entitled to this office, and was put into it, and continued in it, 1Ch_11:6 And David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief.
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud - of whom nothing further is known.
2Sa 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
Seraiah was the scribe – Some say this is the king’s private secretary. Others say the scribe was a secretary of state.
Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – On the massacre of the priests at Nob in1Sa_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 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place at Gibeon,
Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – Abiathar was high priest, and continued so until the time of Solomon, when he was thrust out of his office, and Zadok put into it; and Ahimelech his son and Zadok were the principal priests under him, the one of the family of Ithamar, the other of Eleazar. Zadok is mentioned first, though Ahimelech was the son of the present high priest, because he was in great favor with David, as afterwards with Solomon, in whose days the high priesthood was transferred to him; the family of Eli being now upon the decline, and near being removed from the high priesthood, as was foretold by .
2Sa 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
The Cherethites and the Pelethites - The former supposed to be those who accompanied David when he fled from Saul; the latter, those who came to him at Ziklag. These, according to Josephus, were the king's bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards, 2Sa_23:22-23 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty ones. He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
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.
