Bible Commentaries

War With The Philistines, Moabites, and Syrians

v. 1. Now, after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, over whom he had already gained two victories, 1Ch 14:8-16, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns, one of the five Philistine city-states, out of the hands of the Philistines.

v. 2. And he smote Moab, the heathen nation southeast of the Dead Sea; and the Moabites became David's servants, his tributary vassals, and brought gifts. Cf 2Sa 8:1-2.

v. 3. And David smote Hadarezer (or Hadadezer), king of Zobah, unto, rather, toward, Hamath, his territory lying north or northeast of Damascus, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates, in an effort to get the supremacy of the Syrian states.

v. 4. And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. The apparent discrepancy between this statement and that of 2Sa 8:4 is due to the fact that in the latter passage the Hebrew text is a trifle corrupt. David also houghed all the chariot horses, by hamstringing them, but reserved of them an hundred chariots, probably for a triumphal procession upon his return.

v. 5. And when the Syrians of Damascus, who now held the supremacy in the Syrian countries, came to help Hadarezer, king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians, in defeating their army utterly, two and twenty thousand men.

v. 6. Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus, as in a tributary country. And the Syrians became David's servants and brought gifts, regular tribute money. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

v. 7. And David took the shields, the arms or equipments, of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, with which his soldiers were equipped, and brought them to Jerusalem, into the treasury of the Sanctuary.

v. 8. Likewise from Tibbath (probably Tebah) and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, towns through which the main caravan road to the Euphrates ran, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass, 1Ki 7:15-23. Thus the kingdom of David was extended as far as the Euphrates, because the Lord was with him. Even so the believers prosper under God's blessings in all that His goodness bestows upon them.

The Edomites Subdued

v. 9. Now, when Tou, king of Ramath, a province in the extreme north, on the Orontes, heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer, king of Zobah,

v. 10. he sent Hadoram (or Joram), his son, to King David, to enquire of his welfare, with the usual greeting of peace, and to congratulate him, with the blessings of good wishes, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him, (for Hadarezer, desiring the supremacy over the entire surrounding country, had war with Tou, a state of war existed between them,) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass, in token of his friendship and esteem.

v. 11. Them also King David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations, set aside for the use of the Lord in the treasury of the Sanctuary: from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, whose territory was northeast of the Dead Sea, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek, whom he had overthrown after they had plundered Ziklag in his absence, 1 Samuel 30.

v. 12. Moreover, Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, slew of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, at the southwestern end of the Dead Sea, eighteen thousand. They had ventured an attack upon Judah in the absence of David, while he was in the north, but were decisively defeated before they had done any harm.

v. 13. And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants, his tributary vassals. Cf 2Sa 8:14. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

v. 14. So David, in consequence of all these successful wars, reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment, in deciding all matters brought before him, and justice, in sentencing the unjust, among all his people.

v. 15. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the host, the commander-in-chief of the army; and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, recorder, chancellor of the kingdom.

v. 16. And Zadok, the son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazar, and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar, of Ithamar's line, were the priests; and Shavsha (or Seraiah) was scribe, secretary of state;

v. 17. and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the body-guard of the king; and the sons of David were chief about the king, his privy councilors, 2Sa 8:18. David is a type and example for all believers. Like him, they work and battle all their lives for the extension of the kingdom of Jesus, serving Him gladly with body and soul.