*H And it came to pass after this, that David defeated the Philistines, and humbled them, and took away Geth, and her daughters out of the hands of the Philistines,
Ver. 1. Daughters. Villages (See 2 K. viii. 1. M.) and dependant towns. W.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 8 : 1
And it came to pass after this that David defeated the Philistines, and brought them down, and David took the bridle of tribute out of the hand of the Philistines,*H And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites were made David's servants, and brought him gifts.
Ver. 2. Gifts. Heb. mincha, a word used to denote the offerings of bread, &c. Lev. ii. Here it signifies the tribute (C.) imposed on the conquered. H.
*H At that time David defeated also Adarezer king of Soba of the land of Hemath, when he went to extend his dominions as far as the river Euphrates.
Ver. 3. Adarezer, or Adadezer, 2 K. — When he, the king of Soba, went to extend. Heb. "to strengthened his hand on the," &c. — Hand often denotes power, extent, possession.
*H And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and he houghed all the chariot horses, only a hundred chariots, which he reserved for himself.
Ver. 4. Footmen. Heb. may well signify, "1000 chariot-horses and 7000 men who mounted the chariots and the horses." We only find 1700 horsemen. 2 K. viii. 4. But soon after it is added, David houghed all the chariot-horses. C. — They were thus rendered useless. The king was forbidden to keep many horses. D.
*H And the Syrians of Damascus came also to help Adarezer king of Soba: and David slew of them likewise two and twenty thousand men.
Ver. 5. Damascus. Heb. "Aram of Darmesek." Elsewhere the r is omitted.
*H And he put a garrison in Damascus, that Syria also should serve him, and bring gifts. And the Lord assisted him in all things to which he went.
Ver. 6. A garrison. Lit. "soldiers." This word has been lost by the neglect of some Heb. transcriber. C. — Prot. supply it. H.
*H And David took the golden quivers which the servants of Adarezer had, and he brought them to Jerusalem.
Ver. 7. Quivers. Heb. "the shields," &c. The term is variously translated, 2 K.
*H Likewise out of Thebath and Chun, cities of Adarezer, he brought very much brass, of which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
Ver. 8. Chun, called probably Betath, and Berothai. 2 K.
*H He sent Adoram his son to king David to desire peace of him, and to congratulate him that he had defeated and overthrown Adarezer: for Thou was an enemy to Adarezer.
Ver. 10. Adoram, or Joram, ib. — Desire. Heb. "to ask if all went well with him, and to bless him.
*H And all the vessels of gold, and silver and brass king David consecrated to the Lord, with the silver and gold which he had taken from all the nations, as well from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, as from the Philistines, and from Amalec.
Ver. 11. Edom, or rather Syria, (Aram) which might easily be exchanged for Edom. 2 K. viii. David could not satisfy his devotion by building a temple; but he made preparations. Solomon left part of the treasures unconsumed, 1 Par. xxvi. 26. C. — These effects, being destined for sacred uses, are said to be consecrated to the Lord. W.
*H And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the vale of the saltpits, eighteen thousand:
Ver. 12. Edomites. David seems to have been present, and the victory is sometimes attributed to him. Joab afterwards slew 18,000. 3 K. xi. 15. title of Ps. ix. S. Jer. Trad. C. — Pits. This place was fatal to that nation: there Amasias destroyed 20,000, 2 Par. xxv. 12. T.
*H And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests: and Susa, scribe.
Ver. 16. Abiathar and Achimelech had both names indifferently. Heb. reads Abimelech, which is a manifest mistake. The name of Abiathar perhaps ought to be in the place of Achimelech; as we know that he was the son of the latter, and the high priest under David. Some would translate, "and Abiathar, son of Achimelech." — Susa, or Saraias, secretary.
*H And Banaias the son of Joiada was over the bands of the Cerethi, and the Phelethi: and the sons of David were chief about the king.
Ver. 17. About. Lit. "at the hand of the king," to execute his orders, and to assist him. Sept. "vicegerents." Syr. "princes." They are styled priests. 2 K. viii. 18.