1. David took Metheg-ammah out of
the hand of the Philistines—that is, Gath and her suburban
towns (1 Chronicles 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.
. HE SMITES
HADADEZER AND THE SYRIANS.
3. Zobah— (). 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 (Genesis 15:18; Numbers 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 Genesis 46:6; Joshua 11:6;
Joshua 11:9). 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—Coeligle-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 ().
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 . This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the
skilful generalship and gallantry of Abishai and Joab. (; compare Psalms 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].
Psalms 60:1. 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 ().
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, [], Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of
Eleazar (1 Chronicles 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 (1 Chronicles 6:50).
18. Cherethites—that is,
Philistines (Zephaniah 2:5).
Pelethites—from Pelet
(1 Chronicles 12:3). They were the
valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the
Philistines, were made his bodyguard.
CHAPTER 8
2 Samuel 8:1; 2 Samuel 8:2. 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 (1 Chronicles 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.
. HE SMITES HADADEZER AND THE SYRIANS.
3. Zobah— (). 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 (Genesis 15:18; Numbers 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 Genesis 46:6; Joshua 11:6; Joshua 11:9). 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—Coeligle-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 ().
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 . This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the skilful generalship and gallantry of Abishai and Joab. (; compare Psalms 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].
Psalms 60:1. 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 ().
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, [], Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 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 (1 Chronicles 6:50).
18. Cherethites—that is, Philistines (Zephaniah 2:5).
Pelethites—from Pelet (1 Chronicles 12:3). They were the valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the Philistines, were made his bodyguard.