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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

2 Samuel 8:18

The Cherethites and the Pelethites] see on 1 Samuel 30:14; They formed part of David's foreign bodyguard.

Chief rulers] RV 'priests.' There can be no doubt that the translation of RV is correct, for the word has never any other meaning than that of 'priests.' But it is far from clear what were the precise duties which they discharged. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests for the nation, while 2 Samuel 20:26 and 1 Kings 4:5 show that these 'priests' stood in some special relation to the king. Accordingly Ewald conjectures that they were his domestic priests. In Egypt, the king's confidential advisers are said to have been chosen from among the priests, and it is this view of their functions which is taken in Chronicles. 'The sons of David were chief about the king.' See Intro. § 5.

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See also 2 Samuel 8:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Samuel 8:18. _BENAIAH_] The chief of the second class of David's worthies. We shall meet with him again. _THE CHERETHITES AND THE PELETHITES_] The former supposed to be those who accompanied...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    For a similar account of the officers of Solomon’s kingdom, see 1 Kings 4:1, where Jehoshaphat is still the recorder, and Benaiah is advanced to be captain of the host in the room of Joab. The recorde...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    5. THE EXTENSION OF HIS KINGDOM CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The Philistines and Moab smitten (2 Samuel 8:1)_ 2. Hadadezer overthrown (2 Samuel 8:3) 3. Further conquests and triumphs (2 Samuel 8:9) 4. David'

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    2 SAMUEL 8. DAVID'S VICTORIES. HIS MINISTERS (D). A concluding summary, corresponding to the similar section on Saul (1 Samuel 14:47 ff.) and by the same hand. Apparently it formed the conclusion of a...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BENAIAH. Compare 2 Samuel 23:20. CHERETHITES... PELETHITES. David's body-guard. Here ends the _prosperous_ part of David's reign....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    David's administration and officers A summary notice of the internal administration of the kingdom, with a list of David's chief officers of state, is appended to the account of his wars. Another lis...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Benaiah_ See note on ch. 2 Samuel 23:20. _was over Over_is not in the Heb. text, and must be supplied from Chr. But possibly there is some further defect, for the Sept. reads "Benaiah the son of Jeh...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BENAIAH, &C.— Benaiah was one of David's three worthies of the second order, eminent for many great exploits, but of which three only are particularly recounted by the sacred historian. There seems to...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _David's Government._ 2 Samuel 8:14-18 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 h...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND BENAIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA WAS OVER BOTH THE CHERETHITES AND THE PELETHITES; AND DAVID'S SONS WERE CHIEF RULERS._ Cherethites - i:e., Philistines (Zephaniah 2:5). PELETHITES - from Pelet (1 Ch...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    8:18 Pelethites; (e-13) The executioners (a sort of bodyguard), and the runners....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 8 DAVID WINS MANY WARS V1 Some time later, David fought the *Philistines. He defeated them and he controlled their chief city. V2...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE CHERETHITES AND THE PELETHITES. — These bodies of men, here mentioned for the first time, afterwards appear frequently, constituting the most trusted part of the king’s army, and forming his espec...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וּ בְנָיָ֨הוּ֙ בֶּן ־יְהֹ֣ויָדָ֔ע וְ הַ כְּרֵ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XI. _ ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM._ 2 Samuel 8:15. IF the records of David's warlike expeditions are brief, still more so are the notices of his work of peace. How he fulfilled his royal f...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    VICTORIOUS ON EVERY SIDE 2 Samuel 8:1 Twice in this chapter we are told that the Lord gave victory to David “whithersoever he went,” 2 Samuel 8:6; 2 Samuel 8:14. Indeed, he was more than a conqueror,...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here we have the record of some of the victories of David, again not necessarily in chronological order. There is, however, a very close relation between this account of them and what had preceded. Th...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the (h) Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. (h) The Cherethites and Pelethites were as the king's guard, and had charge...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    The Cerethi and Phelithi. The king's guards. (Challoner) --- They were Philistines, and had attached themselves to David while he was at Geth, continuing always faithful to him. We read of them in the...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (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 w...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    REFLECTIONS WHILE I behold the victories of David, upheld by the arm of Omnipotence, and the Lord his God preserving him whithersoever he went, oh! for grace to look unto the same covenant God in Chri...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We have seen the sorrowful circumstances out of which arose the first desire to have a king in Israel, and the remarkable fact that, although it was a sin, God nevertheless did not put the people back...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Being entirely delivered from the insurrections of the people,* David exercises his power in bringing his enemies into subjection. The Philistines, who dwelt within the land of Israel, are subjugated....

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND BENAIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA [WAS] OVER BOTH THE CHERETHITES AND PELETHITES,.... These, according to Josephus k, were the king's bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. Ver. 18. _Was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites,_] _i.e., _ Was _Pra...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Benaiah_, &c. Benaiah was one of David's three worthies of the second order; eminent for many great exploits, of which three only are recounted by the sacred historian. _Was over both the Cherethites...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Dauid subdueth the Philistines and the Moabites. 3 He smiteth Hadadezer, and the Syrians. 9 Toi sendeth Ioram with Presents to blesse him. 11 The Presents and the spoile Dauid dedicateth to God....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the king's body-guard, who not only carried out the royal orders, but also executed the royal death sentences, being...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    David's Prestige Recognized...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    God's declaration to David of His sovereign counsels in chapter 7 and David's submission and worship had good practical effect. Notice it is "after this" (v.1) that David defeated and subdued the Phil...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    CHIEF RULERS: Or, princes...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-18 David neither did wrong, nor denied or delayed right to any. This speaks his close application to business; also his readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him. He had no respect...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WAS OVER: these words are supplied out of the parallel place, 1 CHRONICLES 18:17, and out of 2 SAMUEL 20:23, where they are expressed. The Cherethites and Pelethites were undoubtedly soldiers, and suc...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Samuel 8:18 Benaiah H1141 son H1121 Jehoiada H3077 Cherethites H3774 Pelethites H6432 Davids H1732 sons H1121 ministers...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Full establishment of David's kingdom. CHARACTERS: God, David, Hadadezer, Joram, Toi. CONCLUSION: After the long and frequent struggles which the Christian has with the powers of darkness,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Samuel 8:2. _Two lines._ The measuring line gave inheritance, but here the line gave the inheritance of rebels to others, as is the manner of treating rebels by a total forfeiture of inheritance. Th...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _David reigned over all Israel._ ADMINISTRATION OF THE KINGDOM I. The first thing pointed out to us here is the catholicity of his kingly government; embracing all Israel, all people. He did not best...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _David smote the Philistines and subdued them._ THE VICTORIOUS KING These years of war gave birth to some of the grandest of the psalms, amongst which may be numbered, 2., 20., 21., 60., 110. I. The...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 8:1__ Chapter 2 Samuel 8:1 lists David’s military victories. These events do not necessarily match the historical order of the rest of the book....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 8:15 This is a list of David’s officials (for similar lists, see 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Kings

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 SAMUEL 8:18 BENAIAH led David’s personal force of CHERETHITES AND... PELETHITES. He was one of David’s mighty men (2

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES.— 2 Samuel 8:1. “METHEG-AMMAH.” This is a very obscure word, and has been very variously translated. “METHEG” is a “BRIDLE,” and “AMMAH” is translated _mother_ by Keil, E...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 8:1 DAVID SMOTE THE PHILISTINES. In the previous chapter we have seen that the empire of David not only marked an era in the development of Israel nationally, but was also the rea...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    In the eighth chapter of second Samuel there is chronicled for us certain of David's victories over their enemies round about, how that God was establishing David and his kingdom, and was subduing his...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 18:17; 1 Kings 1:44; 1 Kings 2:34; 1 Kings 2:35;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Cherethites, &c. — The Cherethites and Pelethites were undoubtedly soldiers, and such as were eminent for their valour and fidelity. Most probable they were the king's guards, which consisted of these...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How could David’s sons be priests when they were not Levites? PROBLEM: According to this verse, “David’s sons were chief ministers.” Yet Numbers 3:10 forbids anyone except the sons of Aaron from bein...

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