John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:9
When Toi king of Hamath ,.... Which was another small kingdom in Syria, perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer, and this the first king of it, at least the first we hear of; his name is Tou in 1 Chronicles 18:9 ; where in the Targum he is called king of Antioch. Hamath lay to the north of the land of Canaan; See Gill on Numbers 34:8 , it is said F20 Cartwright's Preacher's Travels, p. 6. to be three days' journey from Tripoli, and that it stands in the midway... read more
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