1.
Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
it came to pass. Compare the parallel (2 Samuel 8:1-8 ); and note that the two accounts are supplementary and complementary, not contradictory.
Gath. See note on "Metheg-ammah" (2 Samuel 8:1 ). In the time of Solomon (1 Kings 2:39 Gath was tributary.
her towns. Hebrew her daughters. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 .
2.
And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
smote Moab. Tims fulfilling Numbers 24:17 .
3.
And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
Hadarezer. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read "Hadadezer" as in 2 Samuel 8:5 .
Zobah. Compare Psalms 60 , title, and 1 Samuel 14:47 . It was in the neighbourhood of Damascus. in 1 Chronicles 19:6 we have the provocation which led to this war. Compare 2 Samuel 10:16 . to stablish his dominion. It had been impaired, Compare 2 Samuel 8:3 .
4.
And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.
seven thousand. See note on 2 Samuel 8:4
an = for an.
5.
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6.
Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
garrisons. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read this word in the text, as in 2 Samuel 8:6 .
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
7.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8.
Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
Tibhath. Called also Beta and Berothai (2 Samuel 8:8 ): unless the four names represent four cities.
the pillars: i.e. the two pillars afterward made by Solomon (1 Kings 7:15 , 1 Kings 7:21 ; 2 Chronicles 3:15-17 ).
9.
Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
Tou. Called also Toi (2 Samuel 8:9 ).
10.
He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
Hadoram. Called also Joram in 2 Samuel 8:10 .
had war = was a man of war.
11.
Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
from Edom. In 2 Samuel 8:14 we have another exploit included in this summary. See note on 1 Chronicles 18:12 .
children = sons.
12.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
eighteen thousand. This was Abishai's command. In 2 Samuel 8:13 we have David's command; while in Psalms 60 (title, Psalms 60:1 ) we have Joab's share in the campaign (1 Kings 11:16 ). There is no contradiction, but independent and separate exploits. Abishai's number was 18,000. We do not know how long Abishai's took him. Joab's (which took him six months longer) was 10,000.
13.
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
14.
So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
15.
And Joab the son Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
recorder: or remembrancer.
16.
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
Zadok. Compare 1 Chronicles 6:8 . 2 Samuel 8:17 ; 2 Samuel 15:29 .
Abimelech. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "Ahimelech". Compare 2 Samuel 8:17 .
Shavsha. Called also Seraiah (2 Samuel 8:17 ).
17.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethiten of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
the. Some codices, with Septuagint, and two early printed editions, read "over the".
chief = heads, because David's sons were not priests.
about = at the hand of.
and his son. Septuagint reads "and Hanun his son", as i n 2 Samuel 10:1 .
18.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.