Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Samuel · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
AFter this David smote the Philistims and subdued them, &c. The cause of this warre is not here set downe, some thinke that the taking of Methegsmmah V. 1.here spoken of out of their hands was the cause, expounding it the bridle of tribute or the bridle of a river. But this cannot bee, because it followed after their subduing, neither is it to bee thought, that there was any particular cause, but the Philistims having twice before come against David, hee now to breake their great power, by which they were from time to time most infest to the people of Israel, that hee might leave a quiet kingdome to his sonne after him, as God had said, that hee should live in peace, went against them to make a full conquest over them, and to bring them under his obedience. And for the same cause it is most probable, that hee fought against other peoples also, and that with their spoyles hee might provide gold and silver and other things necessary for the building of the Temple. For although hee was restrayned from building himselfe, yet hee was both acquainted with the matter, forme and ornaments about it, and accordingly prepared for it, as afterwards appeareth, 1 Chron. 22. 14, 15. 1 Chron. 28. 19. Whereas David is said here to have taken out of the hands of the Philistims Methegammah, 1 Chron. 18. 1. It is said, Gath and her townes, so that Gath was this Methegammah, the bridle of tribute, it was one of the chiefe Cities of the Philistims, by the power whereof especially the Israelites had been in times past held under tribute, but now being taken the Philistims became tributaries to David. Hieronym Lyra. Iosephus. Hieronym. in tradit. Hebr.saith, that all the five Cities of the Philistims are meant by the bridle of tribute, but seeing Gath alone with her townes is set forth to bee this Metheg, wee must rest rather in this. Vers. 2. Hee smote also the Moabites, measuring them with a line to cast them to the ground, hee measured with two lines those that hee would V. 2.put to death, and with a full line those that hee would save alive, the vulgar Latine, hee measured them with a line equalling them to the ground, and hee measured two lines, one to kill and the other to keepe alive, that is, saith Lyra, casting Lyra.downe their strong holds, and laying them levell with the ground, that they might not bee able to rebell any more, and hee ordained two wayes of proceeding against them, one against the more blamable killing them by way of justice, the other towards the lesse blamable to save them alive by way of mercy: yet hee saith, the Hebrew hath it: Hee measured two lines to put to death, and fulfilled a line to save alive, which the Hebrewes expound, hee slew two parts of them, and saved the third part alive. The cause of which severity was for that the King of Moab had slaine his father and mother being left with him, when David returned into Judah out of his Countrey, to which hee had fled, when Saul persecuted him, as 1 Sam. 22. Junius likewise, hee dided Junius.the people of the countrey into three parts, and hereof hee slew two, and saved one alive. But this, saith Lyra, is to bee understood of the souldiers, for the rest of the people are said to have beene put to tribute, or made tributaries unto him. Comestor by his measuring of them with the line, and equalling them Scholast. histor. P. Martyr.to the ground understandeth his bringing of them very low, so that to whom hee would he gave possessions there, and his measuring with two lines, &c. of his slaying whom hee would, and saving the rest. Thus also Peter Martyr, who Peter Martyr. Deut. 2. ….enquireth into the reason of Davids going against the Moabites, seeing the Israelites had been forbidden before to goe against them, and answereth, that this was to be understood unlesse they came against Israel, but this they did, Judg. 3. and oppressed them, and were continually their enemies; wherefore David might wel make warre upon them. Tostatus inquiring into the reason, why such Tostatus.severitie was now used against them, saith, that most probably the particular reason was, for that they invaded and did much mischiefe in some parts of the Land, thus provoking David to goe against them, and to slay so many of them. But for so much as the Philistims had damnified and been infest to the Israelites much more, and the Moabites not long agoe deserved well of David, when hee and his father and mother were harboured amongst them from the fury of Saul, there must needs be some other more speciall reason, some extraordinary foule fact committed against David by them, & this I cannot but incline to think was the murthering of his father & mother, whom he left with the King of Moal, 1 Sam. 22. unlesse it shall be thought that David raged thus against them, because being allyed to Israel they unnaturally turned such great enemies; although many reject it, as a fiction of the Rabbins. And for Davids measuring them with a line, Tostat. saith, that hereby is meant his abasing of them after the manner of beasts, which are taken with snares and nets. And Beda, he measured them Beda.with a line to make them equall to the ground, that is, by an hyperbole, hee abased them, and troad them under foot as the ground, as being without all strength to resist, so mightily did hee bring them under. Or because a line is used to measure Land withall, it is meant, that hee having gotten Moab into his possession gave portions thereof by measure, to whom hee pleased, saving those alive who submitted themselves unto him for this purpose, and slaying the contumacious. The Reader may follow which of these expositions hee pleaseth; But I preferre that of Lyra, hee determined with himselfe, as if hee had measured with a line, how farre to proceed in demolishing their strong holds, and for the people, how many to preserve and how many to kill, viz. to kill two for one. Thus, as one noteth, David extended his kingdome eastward on the other side of the river Jordan where Moab stood, as by conquering the Sallianus.Philistims Westward, and afterwards he went North and South also in his conquests.
David also smote Hadadezer King of Zobah as he went to recover his borders at the River Euphrates, 1 Chron. 18. 3. hee is called Hadarezer, and hee is said to have V. 3.been smitten unto Hamath, when hee went to establish his dominion by Enphrates. Lyra saith, that hee was King of one part of Syria. Peter Martyr of the part called Saphena betweene both the Armenians, and hee saith, that hee now Lyra. Peter Martyr.passed over Euphrates to inlarge his kingdome by getting the Land of the Israelites, whose borders extended even to Euphrates, and happily hee pretended a title to it, because Abraham was a Syrian, and the Israelites were once under Cushan-rishathaim in the dayes of the Judges, and hee was King of Mesopotamia in Syria. But David went against him, and overcame him and tooke 1000. Chariots, and 700. horsemen, and 20000. footmen, the vulg. Latin hath it 1700. horsemen, & so it is Hebr. no mention being made here of Chariots, but because, 1 Chron. 18. 4. it is 1000. Chariots, and 7000. horsemen, our translators from thence supplyed the word Chirriots. But it is better leaving it out here to read it, 1700. horsemen. And whereas, 1 Chron. 18. 4 it is 700. horsemen it is to be understood, that even at this day three horsemen are given to every Cataphract, which being the principall horseman is onelyonly here numbred, and those three omitted, but all numbred together, 1 Chron. 18. 4. which is the cause of this diversitie in the numbers, every one being foure, and so 1000. 4000 and 700. 2800. which together come not much short of 7000. Thus Martyr; and Tostatus, Tostatus.and Kimbi not much differing say, that these 1700. were the chiefe, who had Armes adorned with gold, and commanded the rest. Lyra, that both Lyranus:are true, 1700. horsemen at the least were taken, thus saith one, but the other casting up the count more exactly saith 7000. or which resolves it best of all, Sam. reckoneth up onelyonly the horsemen besides those, that rode in Chariots, Chron. having spoken of the taking of Chariots, which Sam. doth not, numbreth together with other horsemen those that rode upon Chariots also, because they were not footmen, and so not unaptly to be counted amongst the horsemen. Here is no mention made of any slaine, but onelyonly taken in this warre, but Josephus saith, there were 20000. footmen slaine and 5000. horsemen, neither is it unlikely, Joseph. antiq. lib. 7. c. 5.that very many were slain, but he saith nothing of those that were taken, nor of Davids houghing the horses, wherein he might seeme to have done unwisely, seeing he might have otherwise made a great benefit of these horses. But herein he followed the charge given before to Joshua, only whereas he houghed Josh. 11. 6.all the enemies horses, and burnt their Chariots; David reserved 100 Chariots. This houghing of the horses saith Peter Martyr, was to make them unserviceable Peter Martyr.for warre, but not for husbandry businesse, it being the Lords will, that the People of Israel should not fight on hors-backe, to prevent trusting in horses, that they might trust in him onelyonly. Whereas it is here said, David smote Hadadezer, as hee went to recover his border at the river Euphrates; This going to recover his border hath beene before expounded of Hadadezer, and so it is taken by Vatablus and others commonly, yet because the word hee may as well Vatablus.have reference to David, as to Hadadezer, Cajetan, Dionysius, Freculphus, and Cajetan. Dionysius. Freculphus.some others understand it of David, as hee went to establish the border of Israel at Euphrates: for thus farre it was promised, that their land should extend, Josh: 1. 3, 4. and therefore the time being now come, David might justly seeke to enlarge it thither. But I assent rather to the former exposition, because David had other enemies nearer to him, as the Ammonites, and Edomites, and Syrians of Damascus, before the subduing of whom, there had beene no policy to goe against enemies so farre off. It is therefore to be conceived, that Hadadezer being a mighty King and ambitious of a larger Dominion, was the first, that stirred in this warre, but to his owne overthrow.
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to helpe Hadadezer, he smote of them V. 5.22000. This King, saith Josephus, was named Adad, from whom all his successors had the same name, the third from him was Benhadad, of whose warring against Israel, it is spoken afterwards. Damascus was the chiefe City of Syria, wherefore Esay saith, the head of Syria is Damascus. Thus Martyr out Peter Martyr.of Josephus, and an old writer Nicolaus followed by him, who also saith, that this Adads kingdome, continued to the 10 generation. But neither was Benbadad the third from him, but rather the fourth, for hee lived 150 yeares after, and Hazael his servant, not his sonne got his Kingdome after him.
The Syrians being overcome by David, hee to keepe them in subjection, V. 6. 7, 8.placed Garrisons in that Country, and made them Tributaries unto him. And the shields of gold, which Hadadezers servants bare, tooke David, and much brasse from Berah and Berothai. But 1 Chron. 18. 8. from Tibbath and 1 Chron. 18. 8.Chun, Cities of Hadarezer, wherewith Solomon made the Brasen sea, &c. happily Pellican.they were other names of the same Cities: all these riches did David dedicate unto God for the use of his sanctuary, as by whose helpe he obtained these victories.
Toy the King of Hamath hearing of Davids victory against Hadadezer sent to congratulate it. There were two parts of Syria, saith Pellican, Sabah, of V. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.which Hadadezer was King, and Hamath the kingdome of Toy, who because Hadadezer was his enemy sent thus unto David, and by his son whom he sent golden and silver and brasen vessels unto him, all which he dedicated to God, together with all the spoiles of the enemies, whom he subdued, Syrians, Ammonites, Moabites, Philistims, Amalekites, and Hadadezer, 1 Chron. 18. 11. Edom also is numbred amongst the Nations subdued by him. And whereas here it is said, David got him a name, when hee returned from smitting the Assyrians in the valley of Salt being 18000, there it is, Abishai the sonne of Zerviah slew of the Edomites in the valley of Salt 18000 men, Ps: 60. mention is made of Joab returning 1 Chron. 18. 12after his strife with Aram Naharaim, and Aram Zobah, and slaying in the valley of Salt of the Edomites 12000. To reconcile these differences, it is to be understood that Samuel saith not expresly, hee slew of the Aramites or Syrians 18000, but when hee returned from his smiting Aram in the valley of Salt 18000 men, it being left to be understood by smiting and then burying 18000 he got him a name, but of what country they were it is not said in Samuel, but 1 Chr. 18. it is further declared, that they were Edomites. And by that, which followeth here, v: 14. he put Garrisons in Edom, &c. it is plaine, that the Edomites were the 180000 said here to bee slaine, whereas Abishai the sonne of Zerviah is said to have slaine them, but here David Abishai the sonne of Zerviah was a great Captaine under David, and so his victory is referred here to David. Touching Joab the chiefe Captaine, to whom the slaughter of Peter Martyr.12000 is ascribed Ps: 60. that was happily at another time, or as Peter Martyr will have it, hee flew 12000 of these, and Abishai 6000, and if so, it must bee held, that the whole number is ascribed to Abishai, 1 Chr: 18. 13. because hee began the slaughter in one wing of the battle, and by the helpe of his brother Joab comming on, so many thousands fell, as being exactly divided, amounted to 6000 for Abishai, 12000 for Joab. But it is better to hold with Cajetan, that the slaying of 12000 by Joab, was at another time, when the Edomites had cut off the Garrisons left there, to revenge which Joab was sent, as may be gathered 1 King: 11. 15. & Ps. 60. Of the slaughter made by Joab in Edom read more 1 King: 11. 15, 16. where hee is said to have buried them, and for this pious act towards an enemy, saith R: Solomon, David grew famous, of which Hieronym. in 2. Reg. Tostatus.it is here said, he got him a name, others, that he set up a trophee of his victories. But his name getting at this time is doubtlesse to be referred to all his foresaid victories, for hereby he was made famous, and especially for that in him, the Prophesie touching Jacob the younger brother, that the elder should serve him, was now fulfilled and never before. For his causing the Edomites to be buried, that was not in the valley of Salt, but in Edom, and there be some, that thinke, and that probably, that these dead whom Joab buryed, were not Edomites, but his owne Country men, left in Garrison in Edom, whom the Edomites had slaine; Lyra.and a trophee of his victory, to get glory to himselfe, hee would not certainely erect, for that had beene vaine glory. Of the valley of Salt, see before Gen: 14.
And David raigned ever all Israel and executed judgement and justice to all the V. 15.People. Having shewed, how David subdued and raigned over all his enemies round about, he now sheweth, how well he ordered the Common-wealth of Israel under him. As hee had no enemies unsubdued abroad, so there were none in all the kingdome of Israel, but lived in obedience to him, and the bounds of this kingdome were now extended also to the uttermost, as they Josh. 1. 3, 4.were set before, and he did well provide for the upholding of his kingdome in peace, in that hee executed judgement and justice to every one, hee did not, Peter Martyr.after his great conquests, as Alexander after his great victory over Darius, give himselfe to riot and intemperance, or as some other Kings, to all manner of pleasure, but hee applyed his minde to the righteous and well governing of the whole kingdome, as a good King ought to doe, and to this end hee had others in severall offices under him, as Joab over the Hoast, Jehoshaphat recorder, Zadok V. 16. 17. 18.and Ahimelech Priests, and Serviah scribe, Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and Pelethites, and Davids sonnes Princes. For the executing of judgement and justice, the first is by dictating, the second by executing, and doing according to that which was dictated, so Martyr; but some he saith, by judgement understand that which was according to the written law of God, by justice that which was done in other cases according to equity and right. Touching Jehoshaphat the recorder, hee saith, that his office was the same with our Master of the Requests, to keepe a Register of mens petitions to the King, and to remember him thereof, so likewise Tostatus. The two Priests here named, were not High-priests, for there was but one, named Abiathar, and these two were the chiefe next unto him, being, as some thinke, the Kings Chaplaines, and they were of two chiefe families, Eleazars and Ithamars, being thus made equall in honour, that the one might not envy the other. And Seraiah the scribe, he saith, either wrote downe the accounts of the Kings revenues, or the acts of judgement done from time to time. And the Cherethites and Pelethites were a band of men about the Kings person, but both they and the Kings sonnes are said to be Princes, Hebr: foreign by the the Vulgar Latin, rendred Priests, but the word signifieth not only Priests, but Princes, and Priests Davids sons could not be, because they were of the Tribe of Judah, of which Tribe not any might serve at the Altar as a Priest, but of Levi onelyonly. Yet the same name being given to Princes argueth the Lawes to be sacred, to see to the execution whereof they are set. What the Cherethites and Pelethites were, divers conjecture diversly. The Chald: Paraph: saith, that they were casters with slings and archers, some, that they were names of families, some, the Sanedrim or great Councell of Judges, some, that they were such, as David had made a league withall, and illustrious men, as Chereth and Pela signifie; some, that they were men of neighbouring Nations, whom David had chosen to bee the keepers of his body, as Achish had sometimes said, that he should alwayes bee to him, and as some Kings now adayes use the Scots and Helvetians. But P. Burgensis, to whom Martyr agreeth, that they were set, the Cherethites to cut off, and the Pelethites to deliver, according to the signification of the word Chereth, to cut off, and Peleth to deliver. And all this out of Peter Martyr. But to returne to the two Priests againe, and then to come to the Cherethites and Pelethites, about whom it is most doubted, Josephus and after him Tostatus say, that they were two High-priests, Zadock made by Saul, and Abiathar by David, and 1 Chron: 15. 11. Zadock and Abiathar are said to bee the Priests; whereas Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar is named here, it is to be understood that both the father and the sonne had both these names, as hath beene shewed upon 1 Sam. 21. 1. There were not then two principall priests under Abiathar the chiefe priest, as some affirme, for that Abiathar, otherwise called Ahimelech, was slaine by Sauls command long before this, and his sonne Ahimelech, otherwise called Abiathar also, who escaped from that massacre to David, was one of the priests here spoken of. And hee and Zadock seeme to me to have beene both High-priests at this time, for the extraordinary occasion that then was of two chiefe, the one to serve at the Tabernacle in Gibeon, and the other before the Arke in Zion, as is appointed 1 Chr: 16. howsoever ordinarily before that time there was but one. And Solomon within a few yeares after putting downe Abiathar, 1 King. 2. 17.reduced the chiefty to one againe. Touching the Cherethites and Pelethites, that they were great men, and of great valour, who alwayes were about the King, as a guard, is plaine, because they are noted to have beene with him, when he fled from Absalom, and went with their Captaine Benaiah to anoint Solomon 2 Sam. 15. 18. 1 King. 1. 4…. 1 King. 2.King, when others followed Adonijah, and they did execution upon Adonijah and Joab, who were the greatest in all the kingdome. But that they were no Israelites, but men of some other Nations, I deny, as Peter Martyr doth, because David would not certainely thus preferre strangers above his brethren, the Israelites, it being against piety so to doe, for so much as the Israelites were peculiarly chosen above all other Nations. Neither doth it make for this conceit, that the Cherethites are spoken of 1 Sam: 30. 18. for even those Cherethites might be one family in Israel, and the Pelethites another, as Vatab. hath it.