2 Samuel 8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 8

David having sought first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, settling the ark as soon as he was himself well settled, we are here told how all other things were added to him. Here is an account, I. Of his conquests. He triumphed, 1. Over the Philistines, 2 Sam. 8:1. 2. Over the Moabites, 2 Sam. 8:2. 3. Over the king of Zobah, 2 Sam. 8:3, 4. 4. Over the Syrians, 2 Sam. 8:5-8, 13. 5. Over the Edomites, 2 Sam. 8:14. II. Of the presents that were brought him and the wealth he got... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:1-8

God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him and made head against him; and he having made a good use of that rest, has now commission given him to make war upon them, and to act offensively for the avenging of Israel's quarrels and the recovery of their rights; for as yet they were not in full possession of that country to which by the promise of God they were entitled. I. He quite subdued the Philistines, 2 Sam. 8:1. They had attacked him when they thought him weak (2 Sam.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:9-14

Here is, 1. The court made to David by the king of Hamath, who, it seems was at this time at war with the king of Zobah. He hearing of David's success against his enemy, sent his own son ambassador to him (2 Sam. 8:9, 10), to congratulate him on his victory, to return him thanks for the favour he had done him in breaking the power of one he was in fear of, and to beg his friendship. Thus he not only secured but strengthened himself. And David lost nothing by taking this little prince under his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:15-18

David was not so engaged in his wars abroad as to neglect the administration of the government at home. I. His care extended itself to all the parts of his dominion: He reigned over all Israel (2 Sam. 8:15); not only he had a right to reign over all the tribes, but he did so; they were all safe under his protection, and shared in the fruits of his good government. II. He did justice with an unbiased unshaken hand: He executed judgment unto all his people, neither did wrong nor denied or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 8 This chapter gives a relation of the wars of David with his enemies, and his victories over them, particularly the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, and of the spoils he took from them, and of the presents made to him by others, 2 Samuel 8:1 ; and of his righteous administration of government, and of the principal officers in his court and camp, 2 Samuel 8:15 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:1

And after this it came to pass ,.... After David had rest from his enemies for a time, and after the conversation he had had with Nathan about building the house of God, and after the message sent to him from the Lord by that prophet, forbidding him to build, and David's prayer to the Lord upon it, the following events happened; and which are recorded to show that David's rest from his enemies did not last long, and that he had other work to do than to build the house of God: that David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:2

And he smote Moab ,.... He next went against that, and invaded it, the people of it being always troublesome and distressing to the children of Israel; and though the king of it had shown some favour to David, yet it was when he considered him as an enemy to Saul, and Saul to him; but things having taken a different turn, his and his people's enmity against David and his people appeared; wherefore he went and fought them, and made them his subjects, whereby was fulfilled the prophecy of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:3

And David also smote Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah ,.... Called sometimes Aramzobah, and was a part of Syria, as its name shows. Benjamin, of Tudela F8 Itinerar. p. 59. takes it to be the same with Haleb or Aleppo; Josephus F9 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 5. sect. 1.) calls it Sophene; but that is placed by Ptolemy F11 Geograph. l. 5. c. 13. beyond the Euphrates; whereas this country must be between that river and the land of Israel, and was contiguous to it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:4

And David took from him a thousand chariots , and seven hundred horsemen ,.... "Chariots" are not in the text here, it is only 1700 "horsemen"; but it is supplied from 1 Chronicles 18:4 ; where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand as in the Septuagint version here, and in Josephus F13 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 5. sect. 1.) ; which may be reconciled by observing, with Kimchi and Abarbinel, that here the chief officers are meant,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:5

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah ,.... These seem to have had no king at this time, or, if they had, Hadadezer was their king, which is not improbable; and Nicholas of Damascus F15 Apud Joseph. ib. (l. 7. c. 5.) sect. 2. ; an Heathen writer, is clear for it, whom he calls Adad, who, he says, reigned over Damascus, and the other Syria without Phoenicia, who made war with David king of Judea, and was routed by him at Euphrates: and he seems to be... read more

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