Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Samuel · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Verſ. 1. ANd after this it came to paſſe, that David ſmote the Philiſtines, and ſubdued them.] In this chapter the warres and victories of David are recorded, both to diſcover one cauſe amongſt others, why the Lord appointed him to give over his purpoſe of building the temple, to wit, becauſe he ſhould not have leaſure to do it, by reaſon of his many warres; and alſo to ſhew how the Lord performed his promiſes made to David in the former chapter, concerning the proſperity and flouriſhing eſtate of his kingdome and people.
And David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philiſtines.] That is, Gath and her towns, 1. Chron. 18.1. This Gath called afterwards Dio-caeſaria, ſtood on the frontier of Paleſtina at the entrance into Judea and Ephraim, and the mountainous tract of ground whereon it ſtood, was it ſeems called Ammah, or Amgar, whereupon it was called, Metheg-ammah or the bridle of ammah, becauſe being a town of great ſtrength, it was as it were the bridle whereby the whole countrey about was kept in aw.
Verſ. 2. And he ſmote Moab, and meaſured them with a line, caſting them down to the ground, &c.] The Moabites were alwayes deadly enemies to the Iſraelites, as is evident, Num. 22.1, 2, &c. and therefore though the king of Moab gave entertainment to Davids father and mother, taking him then to be an enemy to Saul and his people, 1. Sam. 22.3, 4. David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab, and he ſaid unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. Yet when David was once eſtabliſhed king of Iſrael, it is likely the Moabites bare now the ſame hoſtile mind againſt David, which they had formerly againſt Saul, and might give juſt occaſion to David to make warre againſt them: yea indeed the Lord had commanded the Iſraelites alwayes to account them enemies, Deut, 23.6. Thou ſhalt not ſeek their peace, nor their proſperity, all thy dayes for ever; and thereupon, he ſmote Moab and meaſured them with a line, that is, he did ſo abſolutely vanquiſh them, that they were wholly at his mercy, he might diſpoſe of them as ſeemed good to himſelf, ſlaying and ſparing whom he pleaſed, and had made ſuch havock in the countrey, levelling their towns and cities with the ground, that it lay open before him to be meaſured with a line, to be divided and diſpoſed of, as a place newly to be planted and inhabited; this phraſe of meaſuring with a line, is grounded upon the cuſtome of abſolute conquerours, who having gotten a land into their power, do divide it amongſt thoſe that ſhall dwell in it, as the Iſraelites did the land of Canaan, or elſe, it is a ſimilitude borrowed from husbandmen that meaſure out land, ſome for tillage, ſome for wood, ſome for paſture; or rather from carpenters, who with a line ſtrike their timber to ſet out how much ſhall be hewed off, and how much reſerved for the building; implying that even ſo David ſlew and kept alive of the Moabites taken priſoners whom he pleaſed, even with two lines meaſured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive, that is, he ſlew two third parts of the people, and one third part he kept alive, that the land might not lie wholly deſolate, and ſo now was that propheſie in part fulfilled, Numb. 24.17. There ſhall come a ſtarre out of Jacob, and a ſceptre ſhall riſe out of Iſrael, and ſhall ſmite the corners of Moab, and deſtroy all the children of Sheth; and Moab became Davids waſhpot, as David ſung, Pſal. 60.8. Moab is my waſhpot, over Edom will I cast my ſhoe, which was compoſed at this time.
And ſo the Moabites became Davids ſervants, and brought gifts.] To wit, by way of tribute.
Verſ. 3. David ſmote alſo Hadadezer the ſonne of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.] With this Hadadezer (or Hadarezer, 1. Chron. 18.3.) king of Zobah, called Syria Zobah, and with his father Rehob Saul had warres, 1. Sam. 14.47. He grew now exceeding powerfull, and had it ſeems ſubjected Damaſcus or Aram (another part of Syria lying north eaſt of the land of Canaan, as Syria Zobah alſo did; for the Syrians of Damaſcus were engaged in this warre no doubt by his command, verſ. 5. And when the Syrians of Damaſcus came to ſuccour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David ſlew of the Syrians twenty thouſand men; and 1. Kings 11.23. Rezon a ſervant to this Hadadezer taking advantage of this overthrow of his Lord mentioned, chap. 10.16, 17, 18. gathered together a band of ſouldiers, happely the remainder of Hadadezers broken troups, and made himſelf king of Damaſcus, and as it ſeems of all that was his Lords. David therefore conſidering how mighty this neighbour king began to be, who was alwayes an enemie to the Iſraelites, and knowing of this his expedition, for the recovering or eſtabliſhing the border of his dominion at the river Euphrates, he raiſed an army under the command of Joab (as is evident in the title of the 60. Pſalme, To the chief muſician upon Shuſhan-Eduth, Michtam of David, to teach. When he ſtrove with Aram Naharaim, and with Aram Zobah, when Joab returned, and ſmote of Edom in the valley of ſalt, twelve thouſand) and Abiſhai, 1. Chron. 18.12. and ſo encountering with Hadadezer (who muſt need paſſe either through ſome part of Davids kingdome on the other ſide Jordan, or cloſe by it) he utterly overthrew his armies. Others conceive indeed, that it is David of whom it is here ſaid, that he went to recover his border, at the river Euphrates, & that upon that occaſion he vanquiſhed Hadadezer, that ſought to oppoſe him; but however, thus that prophecy was in part fulfilled, Gen. 15.18. that the Lord would give unto Abrahams ſeed that land, even unto the great river Euphrates, that countrey becoming now tributary to David: and upon the occaſion of this victory, David compoſed the 60 Pſalme, as is evident in the title before expreſſed.
Verſ. 4. And David took from him a thouſand chariots, and ſeven hundred horſemen, &c.] That is, ſeven hundred decuries, ſeven hundred companies or ranks of horſemen, having tenne in each company, or in each rank: for ſo it muſt neceſſarily be expounded, to reconcile this with, 1. Chron. 18.4. where it is ſaid, that David took from them ſeven thouſand horſemen, unleſſe the chief be here onelyonly expreſſed, and all there.
And David houghed all the chariot horſes, &c.] He reſerved onelyonly for an hundred chariots, as having reſpect to that which God had ſaid of the kings of Iſrael, Deut. 17.16. But he ſhall not multiply horſes to himſelf, nor cauſe the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he ſhould multiply horſes, the reſt he houghed to make them unſerviceable for the warres, though uſefull otherwayes, as we ſee the like done by the Lords direction, Joſh. 11.6. Thou ſhalt hough their horſes, and burn their chariots with fire.
Verſ. 7, And David took the ſhields of gold that were on the ſervants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jeruſalem.] And ſo laid them by for the building of the Temple, verſ. 11.
Verſ. 8. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much braſſe.] Theſe cities are called Tibhath, and Chun, 1. Chron. 18.8. Happely, becauſe their names were afterwards changed, when that hiſtory was written.
Verſ. 10. Then Toi ſent Joram his ſonne unto king David to ſalute him, and to bleſſe him, becauſe he had fought againſt Hadadezer, &c.] That is, to congratulate his victory, and withall no doubt, for fear of David; this Joram the ſonne of Toi is alſo called Adoram, 1. Chron. 18.10.
Verſ. 11. Which alſo king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the ſilver and gold, &c.] Thus Chriſt vanquiſhing Sathan, converted the ſpoyles to the uſe of the Church, and the glory of God; thoſe that had been in bondage to him, he made Apoſtles and teachers, and thoſe precious arts which had formerly been uſed in the devils ſervice, were afterward employed in the building of the Church.
Verſ. 12. Of Syria and Moab, and of the children of Ammon, &c.] See chap. 10.22.
Verſ. 13. And David gat him a name when he returned from ſmiting of the Syrians in the valley of ſalt, being eighteen thouſand men.] That is, David grew very famous by thoſe victories, eſpecially becauſe returning with his armies, he obtained another very glorious victory in the valley of ſalt, wherein he ſlew eighteen thouſand of his enemies; this valley of ſalt was it ſeems, in the countrey of the Edomites, 2. Kings 14.7. He ſlew of Edom in the valley of ſalt, ten thouſand, and took Selah by warre; yet the enemies which there he ſlew, are here called Syrians, though they are ſaid to be Edomites, both in the title of the 60. Pſalme, To the chief muſician upon Shuſhan eduth Michtam of David, to teach. When he ſtrove with Aram Zobah, when Joab returned, and ſmote of Edom in the valley of ſalt, twelve thouſand, and in 1. Chron. 18.12. Moreover Abiſhai the ſonne of Zeruiah, ſlew of the Edomites in the valley of ſalt, eighteen thouſand. But the reaſon of this muſt needs be, becauſe many of the Syrians were now joyned with the Edomites, in this battel which they fought with David. And as for the number of the enemies ſlain, which is diverſely related here, and 1. Chron. 18.12. and in the title of the 60. Pſalme, the moſt probable opinion is, that Abiſhai did at firſt ſet on them, and ſlew ſix thouſand, that afterward Joab came upon them, and ſlew twelve thouſand moe, as is expreſſed, Pſal. 60. in the title, all which together, makes eighteen thouſand as here; which whole ſumme of eighteen thouſand is aſcribed to Abiſhai, 1. Chron. 18.12. becauſe he firſt beg…n the battel, and brake the troops of the enemie; and here to David, becauſe both Joab and Abiſhai were his captains, and fought under his conduct and command.
Verſ. 14. And he put garriſons in Edom, &c.] And thus they became tributaries, and had hence forth, even unto the dayes of Jehoſaphat, a vice-roy or deputy appointed over them, 1. Kings 22.47. There was no king in Edom, a Deputy was king. That prophecy therefore concerning Eſau and Jacob, that the elder ſhould ſerve the younger, Gen. 25.23. began now to be litterally accompliſhed: more of this ſtory, and of the flight of Hadad into Egypt, ſee 1. Kings 11.14.
Verſ. 16. And Joab the ſonne of Zeruiah was over the hoſt.] Joab was the ſonne of Zeruiah Davids ſiſter, but was made Generall of his forces, becauſe of that exploit of his, in winning the caſtle of Sion from the Jebuſites, 1. Chron. 11.6. And David ſaid, Whoſoever ſmiteth the Jebuſites firſt ſhall be chief, and captain. So Joab the ſonne of Zeruiah went firſt up, and was chief.
Verſ. 17. And Zadok the ſonne of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the ſonne of Abiathar were the prieſts.] Zadok was of the ſtock of Eleazar, 1. Chron. 6.4.8. and was afterward by Solomon made high prieſt, in the room of Abiathar, 1. Kings 2.35. Ahimelech the other prieſt here named, was of the ſtock of Ithamar, and as it ſeems, the ſonne of Abiathar, who fled to David from Saul, 1. Sam. 22.20. theſe were the prieſts in Davids time, that is, they were the two chief prieſts of theſe two ſeverall ſtocks, and had the chief command (under the high prieſt Abiathar the father of this Ahimelech) of the other prieſts, each over the prieſts of his own family: for David had divided the prieſts into two parts, according to the two families of Eleazar and Ithamar, 1. Chron. 24.3.4. And David diſtributed them, both Zadok of the ſonnes of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the ſonnes of Ithamar, according to their offices in their ſervice. And there were moe chief men found of the ſonnes of Eleazar, then of the ſonnes of Ithamar, and thus they were divided; Among the houſe of Eleazar, there were ſixteen chief men of the houſe of their fathers, and eight of the ſonnes of Ithamar, according to the houſe of their fathers; and theſe two were appointed to be chief of each family, and to have the over-ſight of the reſt.
Verſ. 18. And Benaiah the ſonne of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites, and the Pelethites.] The opinion of Interpretours differeth much concerning theſe Cherethites, and Pelethites, ſo that it is hard to ſay what they were, or why they were ſo called. The moſt probable opinion is this, that they were two bands of ſelect ſouldiers, choſen to attend upon the kings perſon, as his guard, at leaſt in their courſes, chap. 15.18. And all his ſervants paſſed on beſide him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites ſix hundred men, which came after him from Gath, paſſed on before the king: and 20 7. And there went out after him Joabs men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jeruſalem, to purſue after Sheba the ſonne of Bichri: and 1. Kings 1.38.44. So Zadok the Prieſt, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the ſonne of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down and cauſed king Solomon to ride upon King Davids mule; but why were they ſo called? Some derive their names from certain Hebrew words, which may imply, that the Cherethites were the kings executioners that did cut off malefactours, and the Pelethites were excellent men, and choſen to defend his perſon: but becauſe we find, that the Philiſtines were called Cherethites, 1. Sam. 30.14. We made an invaſion upon the South of the Cherethites, and upon the coaſts which belongeth to Judah: and Cherethims, Ezek 25.16. Thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I will stretch out mire hand upon the Philiſtines, and I will cut off the Cherethims; and the nation of the Cherethites, Zeph. 2.4, 5. Gaza ſhall be forſaken, and Aſhkelon a deſolation: they ſhall drive out Aſhdod at the noon day, and Ekron ſhall be rooted up. Wo unto the inhabitants of the ſea coaſt, the nation of the Cherethites: the word of the Lord is againſt you: I rather ſubſcribe to thoſe that hold, that the Cherethites were ſuch garriſon ſouldiers of the Iſraelites, as were ſeated in Chereth of the Philiſtines, from whom there was ſtill a band choſen to attend the kings perſon, as the guard of his body, becauſe they were the moſt expert and able ſouldiers; and ſo alſo the Pelethites might be garriſon ſouldiers amongſt the Japhlethites, Joſh. 16.3. And goeth down westward to the coaſt of Japhleti.
And Davids ſonnes were chief rulers.] In 1. Chron. 18.17. chief about the king.