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 Samuel 8:1.
2. Over the Moabites,
2 Samuel 8:2.
3. Over the king of Zobah,
2 Samuel 8:3,4.
4. Over the Syrians,
2 Samuel 8:5-8,13.
5. Over the Edomites,
2 Samuel 8:14.
II. Of the presents that were brought him and the wealth he got from
the nations he subdued, which he dedicated to God,
2 Samuel 8:9-12.
III. Of his court, the administration of his government
(2 Samuel 8:15),
and his chief officers,
2 Samuel 8:16-18.
This gives us a general idea of the prosperity of David's reign.
David's Conquests.
B. C. 1042.
1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the
Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of
the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting
them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put
to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the
Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,
as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven
hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed
all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred
chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer
king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand
men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the
Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the
LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants
of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king
David took exceeding much brass.
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 Samuel 8:1.
They had attacked him when they thought him weak
(2 Samuel 5:17),
and went by the worst then; but, when he found himself strong, he
attacked them, and made himself master of their country. They had long
been vexatious and oppressive to Israel. Saul got no ground against
them; but David completed Israel's deliverance out of their hands,
which Samson had begun long before,
Judges 13:5.
Metheg-ammah was Gath (the chief and royal city of the
Philistines) and the towns belonging to it, among which there was a
constant garrison kept by the Philistines on the hill Ammah
(2 Samuel 2:24),
which was Metheg, a bridle (so it signifies) or
curb upon the people of Israel; this David took out of their
hand and used it as a curb upon them. Thus, when the strong man is
disarmed, the armour wherein he trusted is taken from him, and used
against him,
Luke 11:22.
And after the long and frequent struggles which the saints have had
with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son
of David shall tread them all under their feet and make the saints more
than conquerors.
II. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel,
2 Samuel 8:2.
He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed,
casting down the strong-holds, and putting all to the sword; the third
part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Dr.
Lightfoot says, "He laid them on the ground and measured them with a
cord, who should be slain and who should live;" and this is called
meting out the valley of Succoth,
Psalms 60:6.
The Jews say he used this severity with the Moabites because they had
slain his parents and brethren, whom he put under the protection of the
king of Moab during his exile,
1 Samuel 22:3,4.
He did it in justice, because they had been dangerous enemies to the
Israel of God; and in policy, because, if left in their strength, they
still would have been so. But observe, Though it was necessary that
two-thirds should be cut off, yet the line that was to keep alive,
though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Be sure to give
that length enough; let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost
in favorem vitæ--so as to favour life. Acts of indemnity must
be construed so as to enlarge the favour. Now Balaam's prophecy was
fulfilled, A sceptre shall arise out of Israel, and shall smite the
corners of Moab, to the utmost of which the fatal line extended,
Numbers 24:17.
The Moabites continued tributaries to Israel till after the death of
Ahab,
2 Kings 3:4,5.
Then they rebelled and were never reduced.
III. He smote the Syrians or Aramites. Of them there were two distinct
kingdoms, as we find them spoken of in the title of the
Psalms 60:1-12:
Aram Naharaim,--Syria of the rivers, whose head city was Damascus
(famed for its rivers,
2 Kings 5:12),
and Aram Zobah, which joined to it, but extended to Euphrates.
These were the two northern crowns.
1. David began with the Syrians of Zobah,
2 Samuel 8:3,4.
As he went to settle his border at the river Euphrates (for so far the
land conveyed by the divine grant to Abraham and his seed did extend,
Genesis 15:18),
the king of Zobah opposed him, being himself possessed of those
countries which belonged to Israel; but David routed his forces, and
took his chariots and horsemen. The horsemen are here said to be 700,
but
1 Chronicles 18:4
they are said to be 7000. If they divided their horse by ten in a
company, as it is probable they did, the captains and companies were
700, but the horsemen were 7000. David houghed the horses, cut the
sinews of their hams, and so lamed them, and made them unserviceable,
at least in war, God having forbidden them to multiply horses,
Deuteronomy 17:16.
David reserved only 100 chariots out of 1000 for his own use: for he
placed his strength not in chariots nor horses, but in the living God
(Psalms 20:7),
and wrote it from his own observation that a horse is a vain thing
for safety,
Psalms 33:16,17.
2. The Syrians of Damascus coming in to the relief of the king of Zobah
fell with him. 22,000 were slain in the field,
2 Samuel 8:5.
So that it was easy for David to make himself master of the country,
and garrison it for himself,
2 Samuel 8:6.
The enemies of God's church, that think to secure themselves, will
prove, in the end, to ruin themselves, by their confederacies with each
other. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces,
Isaiah 8:9.
IV. In all these wars,
1. David was protected: The Lord preserved him whithersoever he
went. It seems, he went in person, and, in the cause of God and
Israel, jeoparded his own life in the high places of the field; but God
covered his head in the day of battle, which he often speaks of, in his
psalms, to the glory of God.
2. He was enriched. He took the shields of gold which the servants of
Hadadezer had in their custody
(2 Samuel 8:7)
and much brass from several cities of Syria
(2 Samuel 8:8),
which he was entitled to, not only jure belli--by the uncontrollable
right of the longest sword ("Get it, and take it"); but by
commission from heaven, and the ancient entail of these countries on
the seed of Abraham.
David Conquers Edom.
B. C. 1042.
9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the
host of Hadadezer,
10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him,
and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and
smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought
with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of
brass:
11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the
silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he
subdued;
12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of
the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer,
son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of
the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand
men.
14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he
garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the
LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
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 Samuel 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
protection, any more than the old Romans did by the like policy; for
the wealth he had from the countries he conquered by way of spoil he
had from this by way of present or gratuity: Vessels of silver and
gold. Better get by composition than by compulsion.
2. The offering David made to God of the spoils of the nations and all
the rich things that were brought him. He dedicated all to the Lord,
2 Samuel 8:11,12.
This crowned all his victories, and made them far to out-shine
Alexander's or Caesar's, that they sought their own glory, but he aimed
at the glory of God. All the precious things he was master of were
dedicated things, that is, they were designed for the building of the
temple; and a good omen it was of kindness to the Gentiles in the
fulness of time, and of the making of God's house a house of prayer for
all people, that the temple was built of the spoils and presents of
Gentile nations, in allusion to which we find the kings of the
earth bringing their glory and honour into the new
Jerusalem,
Revelation 21:24.
Their gods of gold David burnt
(2 Samuel 5:21),
but their vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus in the conquest of a soul,
by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must
be destroyed, every lust mortified and crucified, but what may glorify
him must be dedicated and the property of it altered. Even the
merchandise and the hire must be holiness to the Lord
(Isaiah 23:18),
the gain consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth
(Micah 4:13),
and then it is truly our own and that most comfortably.
3. The reputation he got, in a particular manner, by his victory over
the Syrians and their allies the Edomites, who acted in conjunction
with them, as appears by comparing the title of the 60th Psalm, which
was penned on this occasion, with
2 Samuel 8:13.
He got himself a name for all that conduct and courage which are
the praise of a great and distinguished general. Something
extraordinary, it is likely, there was in that action, which turned
very much to his honour, yet he is careful to transfer the honour to
God, as appears by the psalm he penned on this occasion,
2 Samuel 8:12.
It is through God that we do valiantly.
4. His success against the Edomites. They all became David's servants,
2 Samuel 8:14.
Now, and not till now, Isaac's blessing was accomplished, by which
Jacob was made Esau's Lord
(Genesis 27:37-40)
and the Edomites continued long tributary to the kings of Judah, as the
Moabites were to the kings of Israel, till, in Joram's time, they
revolted
(2 Chronicles 21:8)
as Isaac had there foretold that Esau should, in process of time, break
the yoke from off his neck. Thus David by his conquests,
(1.) Secured peace to his son, that he might have time to build the
temple. And,
(2.) Procured wealth for his son, that he might have wherewith to build
it. God employs his servants variously, some in one employment, others
in another, some in the spiritual battles, others in the spiritual
buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the
glory of all. All David's victories were typical of the success of the
gospel against the kingdom of Satan, in which the Son of David rode
forth, conquering and to conquer, and he shall reign till he has
brought down all opposing rule, principality, and power: and he has, as
David had
(2 Samuel 8:2),
a line to kill and a line to save; for the same gospel is to some a
savour of life unto life, to others a savour of death unto death.
David's Administration of the Government of Israel.
B. C. 1042.
15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed
judgment and justice unto all his people.
16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of
Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the
Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief
rulers.
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 Samuel 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
delayed right to any. This intimates,
1. His industry and close application to business, his easiness of
access and readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him.
All his people, even the meanest, and those too of the meanest tribes,
were welcome to his council-board.
2. His impartiality and the equity of his proceedings, in administering
justice. He never perverted justice through favour or affection, nor
had respect of persons in judgment. Herein he was a type of Christ, who
was faithful and true, and who doth in righteousness both judge and
make war,
Revelation 19:11.
See
Psalms 72:1,2.
III. He kept good order and good officers in his court. David being the
first king that had an established government (for Saul's reign was
short and unsettled) he had the modelling of the administration. In
Saul's time we read of no other great officer than Abner, that was
captain of the host. But David appointed more officers: Joab that was
general of the forces in the field, and Banaiah that was over the
Cherethites and Pelethites, who were either the city train-bands
(archers and slingers, so the Chaldee), or rather the
life-guards, or standing force, that attended the king's person, the
pretorian band, the militia. They were ready to do service at home, to
assist in the administering of justice, and to preserve the public
peace. We find them employed in proclaiming Solomon,
1 Kings 1:38.
2. Two ecclesiastical officers: Zadok and Ahimelech were
priests, that is, they were most employed in the priests' work
under Abiathar, the high priest.
3. Two civil officers: one that was recorder, or remembrancer, to put
the king in mind of business in its season (he was prime minister of
state, yet not entrusted with the custody of the king's conscience, as
they say of our lord chancellor, but only of the king's memory; let the
king be put in mind of business and he would do it himself); another
that was scribe, or secretary of state, that drew up public orders and
despatches, and recorded judgments given.
4. David's sons, as they grew up to be fit for business, were made
chief rulers; they had places of honour and trust assigned them, in the
household, or in the camp, or in the courts of justice, according as
their genius led them. They were chief about the king (so it is
explained,
1 Chronicles 18:17),
employed near him, that they might be under his eye. Our Lord Jesus has
appointed officers in his kingdom, for his honour and the good of the
community; when he ascended on high he gave these gifts
(Ephesians 4:8-11),
to every man his work,
Mark 13:34.
David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ's spiritual
seed, are better preferred, for they are made to our God kings and
priests,
Revelation 1:6.
Matthew Henry "Verse by Verse Commentary for '2 Samuel' Matthew Henry Bible Commentary".
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