2 Samuel 8:3-7 NVI

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 8:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:6

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus ,.... Which was Coele-Syria, and lay between Libanus and Antilibanus, the chief city of which was Damascus; which Curtius F17 Hist. l. 3. c. 8. calls Damascus of Syria, being the head of it, Isaiah 7:8 ; in the principal places of which he put garrisons of soldiers to keep the country in subjection to him; or he put commanders or governors, as the Targum, in the, chief cities, and so Ben Gersom and R. Isaiah interpret it: and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:7

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer ,.... That were found with them, which they had in their hands; these must be supposed to be with the principal officers of his army; or golden chains, as Aquila, or golden bracelets on their arms, as the Septuagint; the Syriac version is "quivers of gold", such as they put arrows into, and so Jarchi and R. Isaiah understand it of such, and refer to Jeremiah 51:11 ; and so Josephus F18 Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 7. c.... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:6

Brought gifts - Paid tribute. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:7

David took the shields of gold - We know not what these were. Some translate arms, others quivers, others bracelets, others collars, and others shields. They were probably costly ornaments by which the Syrian soldiers were decked and distinguished. And those who are called servants here, were probably the choice troops or body-guard of Hadadezer, as the argyraspides were of Alexander the Great. See Quintus Curtius. read more

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:7

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 8:7

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