The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 189 – Section 190
SECT. CLXXXIX.
WE ſhewed in the former Section that one reaſon among others, why the Lord would not permit David to build him an houſe, was becauſe he would not have leiſure to do it, by reaſon of the many wars he was to be engaged in.
Indeed from this time to the birth of Solomon, moſt part of his time, (as we ſhall ſee afterwards) was ſpent in wars, wherein he was very victorious and ſucceſsful, and therein God made good to him the promiſe concerning the proſperity and flouriſhing eſtate of his Kingdom, and the enlarging of his Dominion, which by theſe conqueſts ſtretched not only from Shicor a river in Egypt in the South, to*A City in Syria, which is thought to be Antioch. Hamath in the North, [ſee 1 Chron. 13.5.] but from thence to the river Euphrates, which was the utmoſt bound of all that land which had been formerly promiſed to the ſeed of Abraham, [Gen. 15.18. compared with Deut. 11.24. and Joſh. 3.4.] and was never poſſeſſed by any of them, ſave only by David and Solomon, ſee 1 King. 4.21, 24. There are in this Chapter five wars mentioned that he was engaged in.
The firſt (a)This was indeed his 3d Engagement with the Philiſtines after he was anointed King over all Iſrael.was againſt the Philiſtines deſcended from the Egyptians, whoſe Progenitor was Mizraim the ſecond Son of curſed Cham; they were Heathens, and commonly bitter enemies to the Iſraelites; theſe therefore David now ſet upon and ſubdued and took their ſtrong City Gath (b)It was afterwards called Dio-Caeſarea, it ſtood in the frontiers of Paleſtine, at the entrance into Judea and Ephraim, and the mountainous tract of ground whereon it was built (it ſeems) was called Ammah. Per hanc urbem Philiſtaei olim fraenabant Judaeam, nunc David fraenat Philiſtaeos, imponens illi militare praeſidium.(with all the Towns under its juriſdiction, ſee 1 Chron. 18.1.) called Metheg-Ammah, or the Bridle of Ammah, becauſe it bridled and kept in awe all the Country round about it.
His ſecond war was with the Moabites deſcended of Lot's Inceſt with his daughter, Gen. 19.37. At the coming of the Iſraelites out of the Wilderneſs, they were forbidden by God to invade the Moabites land, or do them any hurt, becauſe he had given it to the children of lot for a poſſeſſion, Deut. 2.9. and God reſtrained them from diſtreſſing them, becauſe they had not then done them any wrong, but afterwards they proved malicious enemies, and thereupon were interdicted from entring into the Congregation unto the tenth generation, Deut. 23.3. They ſhewed their ill will to them in not relieving them with bread in their neceſſity, and afterwards they hired Balaam to curſe them, and when that would not do, they followed his curſed counſel in tempting them by their women to commit fornication, and to joyn with them in their Idolatrous feaſts, Numb. 25. whereby a great plague was brought upon them. They oppreſſed them alſo by Eglon their King in the time of the Judges. 'Tis true the King of Moab gave entertainment to David's Father and Mother, [1 Sam. 22.3, 3.] looking upon him at that time as an enemy to Saul and his people; but when David was once eſtabliſhed King over all Iſrael, it ſeems the Moabites expreſſed the ſame hoſtile mind againſt him, which they had formerly againſt Saul. But what particular provocation they gave now unto David to make war upon them, is uncertain. Some Jewiſh Writers think that David having left his Father and Mother under the protection of the Moabites, they treacherouſly murdered them after he was departed from them; but the Scripture affording us no ground for ſuch a conceit, we dare not entertain it. However undoubtedly David had juſt cauſe now to make war upon them, they ſtill continuing in their former enmity againſt the Iſraelites, though his end was not wholly to diſpoſſeſs them of their Country, but to make them Tributary. He therefore abſolutely vanquiſhing them, and levelling their Cities to the ground, he meaſured their Country with a (a)Regionem in tres partes menſus eſt adhibito funiculo, ex quibus unam conſervavit, occiſis qui erant in aliis duabus. Glaſſ.line, dividing it into three parts, and two thirds of the people he doom'd to deſtruction, and preſerved one third part of them alive to inhabit there, and till the land, and pay him Tribute. And ſo that Propheſie was in part fulfilled, Numb. 24.17. There ſhall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter ſhall riſe out of Iſrael, and ſhall ſmite the corners of Moab, &c. And ſo Moab became his Waſh-pot, as he himſelf ſang, Pſal. 60.8.
His third War was with Hadadezer King of Zobah, a Country in Syria, lying between Damaſcus and Euphrates. Saul (it ſeems) had had a war with this King, 1 Sam. 14.47. and had prevailed againſt him, but he was now grown very potent and formidable, and David knowing how dangerous it was that the Syrians who were profeſſed enemies to the Iſraelites, and dwelt ſo near them ſhould grow powerful, he made war upon them, intending to enlarge his bounds *Upon this occaſion David compoſed the 60 Pſalm, as may appear by the Title., and recover the utmoſt border appointed by God to the Iſraelites, which reached to the river Euphrates, Gen. 15.18. And David took from him a thouſand Chariots, and ſeven hundred Horſemen, that is, ſeven hundred Companies, or ranks (b)Thus is this place reconciled with 1 Chron. 18.4. where 'tis ſaid that David took from him 7000 Horſemen.of Horſemen, having ten in each rank. And David houghed or ham-ſtring'd all the Chariot-horſes, excepting only ſo many as would ſerve for air hundred Chariots, which he reſerved for himſelf, having regard therein to what God had commanded the Kings of Iſrael, [Deut. 17.16.] viz. not to multiply horſes to themſelves, leſt putting confidence in their horſes of war, they ſhould leave off truſting in the Lord. And therefore this houghing was put in execution by Joſhua, Ch. 11.6. And beſides theſe Chariots and Horſes, David took alſo from Hadadezer twenty thouſand footmen.
His fourth war was with the Syrians of Damaſcus, who came to ſuccour Hadadezer, of whom he ſlew two and twenty thouſand, and he put Garriſons into that part of Syria (c)When Hadadezer King of Zoba was worſted by David, Rezon the Son of Eliadah fled from him, and gathered together ſuch ſcattered forces of Hadadezers as were put to flight in the battel, and made himſelf Captain over them, and in time got ſuch an army together (who maintained themſelves as 'tis like by plunder and ſpoil roving up and down) that at laſt in Solomons time either he or his Son ſeized upon Damaſcus, and was made King there; and 'tis ſaid of him that he abhorred Iſrael ond reigned over Syria, ſee 1 King. 11. from 23, to 26. the Kings that ſucceeded him became afterwards bitter enemies to the Kings of Iſrael., and they became Tributary to him. Thus the Lord preſerved and proſpered David in all his enterprizes. And David took the ſhields of gold(d)Hac arma vel tum geſtata ſunt in armamentario Regio ſervabantur. Sic Alexander Magnus Milites Argyraſpidas habuit, ſic dictos a parmis Argenteis. which he found with the ſervants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jeruſalem, and there laid them up for the building of the Temple; and from Betah (e)Theſe Cities are called Tibhath and Chun, 1 Chron. 18.8. poſſibly their names were afterwards changed when that Hiſtory was written.and Berothai (Cities of Hadadezer) he took very much Braſs wherewith Solomon afterwards made the Brazen Sea, and the pillars and veſſels of Braſs. Then Toi (f)Toi is called Tou, 1 Chron. 18.9.King of Hamath †Duplex erat Hamath vel major quae eſt Antiochia, vel minor quae Epiphania.ſent his Son Joram (called Adoram, 1 Chron. 18.10.) to David to congratulate his victory over Hadadezer, who was his enemy, and with whom he had had wars. And Joram brought with him rich preſents, viz. veſſels of ſilver, and veſſels of gold, and of braſs, which David conſecrated to God for the building of the Temple, as he did the other ſilver and gold which he had taken from other Nations. And David by his many victories became renowned for a great Captain, and victorious Conquerour, having all his enterprizes crowned by God with ſucceſs.
His fifth War was againſt the Edomites. When he returned from conquering the Syrians, he led the Army (which under himſelf was commanded by Joab and Abiſhai) into the Country of the Edomites, (with whom many of the Syrians as it ſeems now joined) and in the valley of Salt (ſituate on the Eaſt of Mount Seir, and on the South of the Dead Sea, 2 King. 14.7.) he engaged with them, and ſlew of them twelve thouſand, and afterwards in the purſuit by Abiſhai, ſix thouſand more, in all eighteen thouſand. Which victory being obtained by Joab and Abiſhai as Generals under David, it is aſcribed to them all three, ſee 2 Sam. 8.13. Pſal. 60. in the Title, and 1 Chron. 18.12. Joab after this victory employed himſelf firſt in burying the ſlain, and then ſtaying there ſix months, in that time he made a full conqueſt of them, and ſlew every male that he could lay his hands on from whom he apprehended any danger. In this time Hadad (who was of the ſeed royal of Edom, a youth of about twelve years of age) with ſeveral of his fathers ſervants fled into Egypt, and there was kindly received and entertained by Pharaoh, and married the Queens ſiſter, and afterwards returning into Edom in Solomon's reign, was a bitter enemy to him, ſee 1 King. 11. from v. 14, to 22. The Edomites being thus conquered, David put Garriſons into all their ſtrong holds, and they became Tributary unto him, and he placed a Viceroy over them to govern them as his Deputy, which continued unto Jehorams time, 2 Chron. 21.8. compared with 1 King. 22.47. And thus that Propheſie, Gen. 25.23. that the elder ſhould ſerve the younger was fulfilled, though that other Propheſie, Gen. 47.40. that Eſau's poſterity ſhould break the yoke from off his neck, was alſo afterwards accompliſhed in the days of Jehoram.
David returning from making theſe Conqueſts, behaved himſelf as a wiſe and juſt King, executing judgment and juſtice to all his people. His chief Officers were theſe, Joab was the General of his Army, Jehoſhaphat, Recorder and writer of the Chronicles and things that were to be regiſtred. Zadock (of the ſtock of Eleazar, 1 Chron. 6.4, 8) and Ahimelech (of the ſtock of Ithamar, and Son of Abiathar (a)He fled from Saul to David, 1 Sam. 22.20. and continued High-Prieſt till Solomon's time, when for his ſiding with Adonijah he was depoſed, and Zadock put into his room.the High-Prieſt) were the two chief Prieſts of their ſeveral ſtocks, and had the chief command (under Abiathar) of the other Prieſts, each over the Prieſts of his own family. For David divided the Prieſts into two parts according to the two families of Eleazar and Ithamar, as we may ſee 1 Chron. 24.3, 4. And Benaiah the Son of Jehojada was over two bands of ſelect Souldiers appointed to attend upon the Kings perſon in their courſes as his Guard, ſee 2 Sam. 15.18. and Ch. 20.7. and 1 King. 1.38, 44. 'Tis probable that theſe Cherethites *Theſe were old expert Soldiers like the Praetorian Soldiers among the Romans.were ſuch Garriſon-Souldiers of the Iſraelites as were placed in Chereth of the Philiſtines, ſee 1 Sam. 30.14. and that the Pelethites were alſo ſuch Garriſon-Souldiers as quartered among the Japhlithites, Joſh. 16.3. And David's Sons were chief about the King, and chief Rulers. But that policy or Paternal affection of his did not ſucceed well with him, for two of his Sons, viz. Abſalom and Adonijah having their ſpirits thereby highly raiſed, at laſt they preſumptuouſly affected the Soveraignty.
2 Sam. Ch. 8. whole Chapter.
1 Chron. Ch. 18. whole Chapter.
1 King. Ch. 11. from 14, to 26.
Pſal. 60. & Pſal. 108.
SECT. CXC.
DAvid having ſubdued his bordering enemies, and ſetled the affairs both of Church and State in his Kingdom, he begins now to call to mind the Covenant he had made with his dear friend Jonathan, wherein he had engag'd himſelf to ſhew kindneſs to him and his poſterity. It may indeed ſeem ſtrange he did not long ago think of it, and that he ſhould know nothing of Mephiboſheth, Jonathan's Son, who was but five years old when Saul and Jonathan were ſlain, [2 Sam. 4.4.] and now was come to thoſe years that he was married, and had a young Son; but being hitherto buſied in ſetling his Kingdom at home, and ſubduing his enemies abroad, and Iſhboſheth (Sauls Son) having raiſed a rebellion againſt him (pretending a right to the Crown, and denying his right which God himſelf had given him) and all that family (as 'tis like) having ſided with him in that cauſe, for theſe or the like reaſons, David's head might poſſibly for ſome time be ſo fill'd with jealouſie of State, that he had no great mind to ſhew kindneſs to any of Saul's poſterity; but being now well ſetled in his Kingdom, and freed from ſuch jealouſies, he calls to mind the great love that had been formerly between him and Jonathan, and the Covenant he had made with him in the preſence of the Lord, and confirmed by ſolemn Oath, that he would ſhew kindneſs to him and his poſterity after him, [1 Sam. 18.3. & 20.14, 15.] and thereupon he inquires whither there were any remaining of the houſe of Saul that were fit perſons for him to ſhew kindneſs unto for Jonathan's ſake. Ziba an old ſervant of Saul's informs him that Jonathan had a Son named Mephiboſheth *Call'd Meribbaal, 1 Chron. 8.34., that was lame of his feet, who abode in the houſe of Machir in Lodebar, a little Town in the land of Gilead beyond Jordan, where he lived in a private and obſcure manner, deſiring to be concealed as much as he could, and expected nothing higher than to have his life ſaved. David preſently ſends for him, and when he came before the King he fell on his face, and did reverence. David receives him very kindly, and bids him be of good courage; for he did not ſend for him for his hurt, but for his good. I will ſurely (ſays he) ſhew kindneſs to thee for thy Father Jonathan's ſake, and will reſtore to thee all the proper (a)Which were, it ſeems, now in Davids hands, and confiſcated by reaſon of Iſhboſheth's rebellion.lands of thy Grandfather Saul, and will repute thee as one of my own Sons, and thou ſhalt conſtantly eat bread at my Table.
Mephiboſheth raviſhed at this great and unexpected munificence and favour of the King, he crys out, What is thy ſervant that thou ſhouldeſt look upon ſuch a dead dog (b)David had been thus humbled himſelf once before Saul, 1 Sam. 24.14. After whom is the King of Iſrael come forth, after a dead dog, after a flea?as I am? Then David calling for Ziba, ſaid to him, Behold I have given to Mephiboſheth all that land that pertained to Saul; Thou and thy Sons, and thy ſervants ſhall till the land for him, and bring in the fruits that he may have food in his houſe for his family to eat. But for himſelf he ſhall eat at my Table continually. Ziba reply'd, that all that the King had commanded ſhould be done. So he with his whole houſe, viz. his fifteen Sons, and twenty ſervants, became ſervants to Mephiboſheth. After this Mephiboſheth dwelt at Jeruſalem, having a young Son whoſe name was Micha (c)We find 1 Chron. 8.35. that this Micha had four Sons, and thoſe many others, in whom the noble family of Jonathan was continued..
2 Sam. Ch. 9. whole Chapter.