2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8:1

ANd after this it came to passe] 1 Chron. 18. 1, &c. Here, and in the following Chapters, he rendereth a reason why God would not suffer David to build his temple, namely, because he had no leisure, being by the LORDS will employed in these wars.

Metheg-ammah] Or, the bridle of Ammah; That is, Gath, a chief city of the Philistines, as appeareth, 1 Chronicles 18:1. which is here called Ammah, being situate on an hill: and a bridle, because by its strength it restrained enemies from envading it and the countrey adjacent.

2 Samuel 8:2

measured them] That is, being victorious, he used them and their countrey at his pleasure, dividing their land by measure, and giving it to whom and in what proportion he pleased, and rasing their cities to the ground.

with two lines] That is, he divided the people which he had conquered and taken prisoners into three parts, so equally by lots, as if they had been measured with a line; one part whereof he reserved alive, and put the two other to the sword: for though God at first appointed his people to spare them, Deuteronomy 2:9. yet becoming malicious enemies, David exerciseth upon them this hostile severity, Numbers 24:17. 25. 17.

2 Samuel 8:3

Hadadezer] Called also Hadarezer.

Zobah] Psalms 60:2. A part of Syria, Chap. 10. 6.

as he] That is, David went to settle his dominion in those utmost limits of it, which God had given unto his people, Joshua 1:4. Deuteronomy 1:7. 11. 24.

2 Samuel 8:4

from him] Or, of his.

seven hundred horse-men] That is, tanks of horse-men, ten going to a rank, that is in all seven thousand, as it is expressed 1 Chronicles 18:4.

houghed] See Joshua 11:6.

2 Samuel 8:5

Syrians of Damascus] Which were the chiefest part of the kingdom of Syria, and Damascus the metropolis or chief city in it.

2 Samuel 8:6

preserved] That is, prospered his attempts, and gave him victory.

2 Samuel 8:8

Betah and Berothai] Called also Tibhath and Chun, 1 Chron. 18. 8.

2 Samuel 8:9

Toi] Called Tou, 1 Chron. 18. 9. See Numbers 13:21.

Hamath] A city of Syria, some think Antioch.

2 Samuel 8:10

Joram] Named also Hadoram, 1 Chron. 18. 10.

salute him] Hebr. ask him of peace; That is, to ask of his welfare, and to congratulate his victory, Genesis 43:27.

had wars with] Heb. was a man of wars with.

brought with him] Hebr. in his hand were; To wit, as a present from his father to David.

2 Samuel 8:11

did dedicate] To wit, for the use and service of the temple for which he prepared.

2 Samuel 8:13

was same] That is, though he were lame, and therefore unfit to come to the kings table, yet David, out of his love to Jonathan, gave him this priviledge.

2 Samuel 8:14

put garisons] Over which was appointed a vice-roy or deputy, 1 Kings 22:47.

Davids servants] And of the kings his successours, till the reign of Joram, 2 Kings 8:22.

2 Samuel 8:16

over the host] That is, Generall of the army, 2 Sam. 5.

recorder] Or, remembrancer, or, writer of chronicles.

2 Samuel 8:17

Zadok the son of Ahitub] Of the posterity of Eleazar, 1 Chron. 6. 8. who was a chief, but not high priest, till Abiathar was deposed by Solomon, and he put in his room, 1 King. 2. 26, 35.

Abiathar] Of the posterity of Ithamar, 1 Chronicles 24:3. and son of Ahimelech, who was slain by Saul, 1 Samuel 22. Some think that both the father and the son had double names, and the one and the other called both Ahimelech and Abiathar, and so promiscuously Ahimelech is said to be the father of Abiathar, 1 Samuel 22:20. and Abiathar to be the father of Ahimelech, as here, and 24. 6. See Mark 2:26.

scribe] Or, secretary.

2 Samuel 8:18

And Benaiah, &c.] 1 Chron. 18. 17.

Cherethites and Pelethites] Which were old, expert, strong and valiant men, like the Praetorian souldiers, which David chose for his guard, and made Benaiah captain over them. See 1 Kings 1:38.