1David subdueth the Philistines, and maketh the Moabites tributary. 3He smiteth Hadarezer and the Syrians. 9Tou king of Hamath sendeth his son with presents to bless David; who dedicateth the presents, and the spoil which he had taken, to God. 13He putteth garrisons in Edom. 14His good reign; a list of his principal officers.
1NOW after this 1it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
1 That which tends to the further exposition of this chapter, you may find it in 2 Samuel 8.
2And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and 2brought gifts.
2 Namely, yearly, for a sign of subjection.
3¶And David smote 3Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as 4he went to stablish 5his dominion by the river Euphrates.
3 Other, Hadadezer, 2 Sam. 8:3, 5.
4 Some understand here David; others, Hadarezer.
5 That is, his army. Compare 2 Sam. 8 on verse 3.
4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and 6seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also hougheda all the chariot horses, but 7reserved of them an hundred chariots.
6 See the exposition or comparison of these words with what is recorded in 2 Sam. 8:4, in the exposition there.
a cut the hamstring or hock
7 Or, he reserved; namely, David.
5And when the Syrians of 8Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
8 Other, Darmascus. Also likewise verse 6.
6Then David put 9garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David’s 10servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD 11preserved David whithersoever he went.
9 This is here inserted out of 2 Sam. 8:6.
10 Understand that they were made tributary.
11 Or, gave salvation, victory unto David.
7And David took the shields of gold 12that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
12 Hebr. that were on, or, with Hadarezer’s servants.
8Likewise from 13Tibhath, and from 14Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen 15sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
13 These cities are called Betah and Berothai in 2 Sam. 8:8.
14 These cities are called Betah and Berothai in 2 Sam. 8:8.
15 Understand here by the sea, a quite large vessel, cast of brass metal or copper, called a sea by reason of the abundance of water that went into it.
9¶Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
10He sent 16Hadoram his son to king David, 17to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; 18(for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him 19all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
16 He is called Joram in 2 Sam. 8:10.
17 That is, to visit and to congratulate him, because of the victory that he had gained.
18 Hebr. for Hadarezer was a man of wars against Tou.
19 Or, every.
11 ¶ 20Them 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.
20 He wants to say, that David dedicated unto God as well all the presents which Tou sent him as what he had gotten by conquest of his enemies.
12Moreover 21Abishai the son of 22Zeruiah slew of the 23Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
21 Other, Absai. He was the brother of Joab, and is commonly called Abishai. This fact, which is related here, is ascribed in 2 Sam. 8:13 to David himself; likewise, which is done in battle by the commanders, is commonly attributed to the kings.
22 She was David’s sister, as appears in 1 Chron. 2:16.
23 In 2 Sam. 8:13 the Syrians are named, not the Edomites. These two nations combined together, and the army of the one was smitten as well as the army of the other. See further Psalm 60 in the title, the 7th and 8th annotation.
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 24judgment and justice among all his people.
24 See concerning this phrase Gen. 18:19.
15And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, 25recorder.
25 See the annotation at 2 Sam. 8:16; 1 Kings 4:3.
16And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and 26Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and 27Shavsha was scribe;
26 He is called Ahimelech, 2 Sam. 8:17.
27 He is called Seraiah, 2 Sam. 8:17. Or, it may be that, Seraiah having died, this Shavsha was made scribe or clerk in his stead.
17And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were 28chief about the king.
28 That is, they were the most important commanders or officers whom the king used in the most important matters of government, in order that he may so fit and prepare them for the managing of the affairs of the kingdom, and in matters of state. See 2 Sam. 8:18.