Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 8

AND after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

i. e. Gath and her Towns, as it is expressed in the parallel place, 1 Chron. 18. 1. which are called Metheg-Ammah, or the Bridle of Ammah, because Gath was situate in the Mountain of Ammah; and because this being the chief City of the Philistines, and having a King, which none of the rest had, was the Bridle which had hitherto kept the Israelites in subjection, but now was taken out of their mouths.

Marginal references: Or, the bridle of Ammah▪

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 Davids servants, and brought gifts.

For although the King of Moab, out of hatred to Saul, pretended some kindness to David, and gave protection to his Parents, 1 Sam. 22. 3, 4. yet the Moabites were perpetual and sworn Enemies to the Israelites, who therefore were forbidden to admit them into the Congregation of the Lord, and to seek their peace and prosperity, Deut. 23. 6. And though God commanded them in their March to Canaan, to spare the Moabites, Deut. 2. 9, 19. yet afterwards they proved unthankful, and insolent, and fierce Enemies to God and his people, Numb. 22. 2, &c. and 24. 17. and 25. 17, 18. Iudg. 3. 14, &c. 1 Sam. 14. 47, &c. and thereby provoked God to alter his course and carriage towards them.

i. e. As with Line, the Particle as being oft understood, as Psal. 11. 1. and 22. 6. and 45. 1. The sense is, Having conquered the Land, he made an estimate of it, and, as it follows, distributed the Towns, and People into three parts.

i. e. Overthrowing their Towns, and utterly destroying their People in manner following.

Which severity was necessary for his own and his Peoples security, because they were numerous, and Potent, and Bordering upon Canaan, and very vexatious and mischievous to the Israelites. And now that Prophecy Numb. 24. 17. was accomplished.

3 ¶ David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah , as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

Called Hadarezer, 1 Chron. 18. 3. the Hebrew letters Daleth and Resch being alike, and so oft interchanged.

A part of Syria, lying North-East from Canaan towards Hemath, 1 Chron. 18. 3. See 1 Sam. 14. 47.

Quest. Who? Ans. Either, First, Hadarezer: who being already very Potent, and going to enlarge his Dominion further, David thought fit to oppose him. Or, Secondly, David, who remembring the grant which God had made to his people, of all the Land as far as Euphrates, and having subdued his Neighbouring Enemies, went to recover his Rights, and stablish his Dominion as far as Euphrates.

Marginal references: Psal. 60. title.

4 And David took from him a thousand charets , and seven hundred horsemen , and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the charet horses , but reserved of them for an hundred charets.

Which word is fitly supplied out of 1 Chron. 18. 4. such Substantives being oft understood in the Hebrew Language, as Gen. 26. 30. 2 Sam. 21. 16.

Or, seven hundred Companies of Horsemen, i. e. in all seven thousand; as it is 1 Chr. 18. 4. there being ten in each Company, and each ten having a Ruler or Captain, Exod. 18. 21. Deut. 1. 15. Or, these seven hundred were the Chief and the Rulers of the rest, and the remaining 6300 were the common Horsemen, subject to their Commanders.

i. e. Cut the sinews of their Legs, that they might be useless for War. Compare Ios. 11. 6.

Except the following reserve. Chariots are here put for Chariot-Horses, as they are 1 Sam. 13. 5. 2 Sam. 10. 18. Psal. 76. 6. David did this, because he could not keep them for his own use, Deut. 17. 16.

Marginal references: Or, of his.; As 1 Chron. 18. 4.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

i. e. Who were subject to Damascus, the chief City of Syria.

6 Then David put garisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts : and the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

To purchase their peace, and acknowledge their subjection to him.

7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

Or rather, which were with the servants, i. e. committed to their custody, as being kept in the Kings Armoury: for it is not probable they carried them into the field.

8 And from Beta, and from Berothai , cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

In 1 Chron. 18. 8. it is, from Tibhath, and from Chan. Either therefore the same Cities were called by several names, as is usual, the one by the Hebrews, the other by the Syrians: or those were two other Cities, and so the Brass was taken out of these four Cities.

9 ¶ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hedadezer,

Another eminent City of Syria.

10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had tought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: (for Hadadezer had wars with Toi) and Ioram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass;

Here also the Names differ from 1 Chron. 18. 9, 10. where it is Tou and Hadoram.

Heb. was a man of Wars, i. e. was exercised with continual Wars. Compare Gen. 9. 20, &c.

Marginal references: Heb ask him of peace.; Heb. was a man of wars with, &c.; Heb. in his hands were,

11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD ; with the silver and gold that he had dedicate of all nations which he subdued:

To the building of Gods Temple. So he shewed his affection to God and his House, in preparing for it, when he was not permitted to build it.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 18. 11. and 26. 26.

13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt , being eighteen thousand men .

i. e. Much increased his reputation.

Or, Edomites, as they are said to be, 1 Chron. 18. 12. It is likely these two people were confederates, and that divers of the Syrians whom David had defeated in Syria, fled to Edom, and there joyned with them against their common Enemy, and made up together a very great Army (as the number of the Men slain in it sheweth) consisting of the veterane Soldiers of both Countries. Although the slaughter here following may seem not to have been of the Syrians, as the words at first reading seem to intimate, but of the Edomites; (it not being probable that the Syrians would come so far from their own Country, as to the Valley of Salt, to fight) and this Verse may be [illegible: 1 word] thus, and that very agreeably to the Hebrew: And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians, in smiting (which is easily repeated out of the last Clause, according to the common usage of Scripture) in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand men, who were Edomites, as is sufficiently implied here in the next Verse, and expressed 1 Chron. 18. 12.

A place in Edom so called, either from its Neighbourhood to the Salt Sea, or for some other cause now unknown.

As it is also 1 Chr. 18. 12. where also they are said to be smitten by Abishai; because he was then a chief Commander of the Army under David, and, it may be, began the fight; as, for the like reason, they are said to be smitten by Ioab, Psal. 60. title where also there are onely 12000 mentioned; which place, if it speak of this Battel, the state of it was this: Abishai begins the Combat, and kills 6000, after him comes in Ioab and kills 12000 more, which makes up this 18000. But why may not that be another History and Battel? So the Edomites and Syrians together did first fight with Abishai, and lost 18000 men, and afterwards recruited their Forces and fought with Ioab, and lost other 12000 men. Nor is it strange if two Battels were fought in one place; of which there are divers instances in Historians.

Marginal references: Heb. his smiting.; See Psal. 60. title.

15 And David reigned over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice upon all his people.

i. e. Just judgment, as Deut. 16. 18. A Figure called Hendiadis; as in Gen. 3. 16. Matth. 4. 16.

16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host ; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder .

Who having doubtless declared his repentance for his former crimes, and having done eminent service for his Country, and having received the chief Command by vertue of David's promise and contract, 2 Sam. 5. 8. was still continued in his place.

Either, First, The writer of Chronicles. But it is not likely he would have been put among the great Officers of State and Church. Or, Secondly, The Treasure[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ who examined all the accounts, and kept Records of them▪ Or, Thirdly, The Kings Counceller, as Ahitophel is called 2 Sam. 15. 12. 1 Chron. 27. 33. who was to bring things [illegible: 1 word] moment to the Kings mind and remembrance, and to admonish him from time to time of things fit to be done. See 1 King. 4. 3. and 2 King. 18. 18.

Marginal references: Or, remembrances, or writer of Chronicles

17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub , and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar , were the priests ; and Seraiah was the Scribe;

Not of that Ahitub, 1 Sam. 4. for that was of Ithamar's race, but this of Eleazar.

So Abiathar called his Son by the name of his Father, 1 Sam. 22. 20.

i. e. The Chief Priest next under Abiathar, who fled to David, 1 Sam. 22. 20. and now was High Priest, as may be gathered from 2 Sam. 15. 35. and 1 King. 2. 27, 35. under him these two were the next Chief Priests, or the Second Priests, each one being Chief of the House of his Father, Zadok of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of Ithamar. See Numb. 3. 32. 1 Chron. 24. 3, 4. Or, these two are here mentioned, because they constantly attended upon the King, that he might consult with them in the matters of the Lord, as need required.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 24. 3, 4.; Or, Secretary.

18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites : and Davids sons were chief rulers .

These words are supplied out of the parallel place, 1 Chron. 18. 17. and out of 2 Sam. 20. 23. where they are expressed.

i. e. The Cherethites and Pelethites were undoubredly Soldiers, and such as were eminent for their Valour and Fidelity to the King, as is evident from 2 Sam. 15. 18. and 20. 7. and 1 King. 1. 38, 44. and most probably they were the Kings Guards, which consisted of these two Bands, who might be distinguished either by their several Weapons, or by the differing time or manner of their service. They are supposed to be thus called, either, first, from their Office, which was upon the Kings command to cut off or punish offenders, and to preserve the Kings Person, as their names in the Hebrew Tongue may seem to imply. Or, Secondly, From some Countrey, or place to which they had relation. As for the Cherethites, it is certain they were either a Branch of the Philistines, or a People neighbouring to them, and confederate with them, as is manifest from 1 Sam. 30. 14. Ezek. 25. 16. Zeph. 2. 4, 5. And so might the Pelethites be too, though that be not related in Scripture. And these Israelites and Soldiers of David might be so called▪ either, because they went and lived with David when he dwelt in those parts: or, from some notable Exploit against, or Victory over these People; as among the Romans the names of Asiaticus, Africanus, &c. were given for the same reason. One of their Exploits against the Cherethites is in part related, 1 Sam. 30. 14. And it is likely they did many other against them, and against other people, amongst which the Pelethites might be one.

Had the places of greatest Authority and Dignity conferred upon them.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 18. 17.; Or, Princes.