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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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:1

David took Metheg-ammah - This is variously translated. The Vulgate has, Tulit David fraenum tributi , David removed the bondage of the tribute, which the Israelites paid to the Philistines. Some think it means a fortress, city, or strong town; but no such place as Metheg-ammah is known. Probably the Vulgate is nearest the truth. The versions are all different. See the following comparison of the principal passages here collated with the parallel place in 1 Chr: - 2 Samuel 1... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:2

And measured them with a line - even with two lines - It has been generally conjectured that David, after he had conquered Moab, consigned two-thirds of the inhabitants to the sword; but I think the text will bear a meaning much more reputable to that king. The first clause of the verse seems to determine the sense; he measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground - to put to death, and with one line to keep alive. Death seems here to be referred to the cities by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:3

David smote - Hadadezer - He is supposed to have been king of all Syria, except Phoenicia; and, wishing to extend his dominions to the Euphrates, invaded a part of David's dominions which lay contiguous to it; but being attacked by David, he was totally routed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:4

A thousand chariots - It is strange that there were a thousand chariots, and only seven hundred horsemen taken, and twenty thousand foot. But as the discomfiture appears complete, we may suppose that the chariots, being less manageable, might be more easily taken, while the horsemen might, in general, make their escape. The infantry also seem to have been surrounded, when twenty thousand of them were taken prisoners. David houghed all the chariot horses - If he did so, it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:1

EXPOSITION David smote the Philistines. In the previous chapter we have seen that the empire of David not only marked an era in the development of Israel nationally, but was also the reaching of a new stage in the preparation for the advent of the Messiah; and we saw that without this the development of prophecy would have been impossible, and the people have remained unfit for the high mission to which they were called as the witnesses to the unity of Cod. We have in this chapter a... read more

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