VIII. This chapter contains a general summary of David’s successful wars, closing with the mention (2 Samuel 8:16) of the chief officers of his kingdom. The expression with which it opens, “after this it came to pass,” is a formula of connection and transition, as we might say, “and besides this;”... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBDUED THEM. — In its connection this implies not merely the victory of a single battle, but the reversal of the former relation of the Philistines to Israel, and their reduction to a condition of inferiority and tribute. TOOK METHEG-AMMAH. — No place of this name is known. The first word means _br... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SMOTE MOAB. — David’s former friendly relations with Moab (probably connected with his own descent from Ruth), are mentioned in 1 Samuel 22:3. The cause of his entire change of bearing towards them is not certainly known, but according to Jewish tradition the Moabites had proved false to their tr... [ Continue Reading ]
HADADEZER... KING OF ZOBAH. — This name is sometimes (1 Chronicles 18:3; 1 Chronicles 18:5; 1 Chronicles 18:7, &c.) spelt “Hadarezer,” the letters _d_ and _r_ being much alike in Hebrew and easily confused; but the form given here is right, _Hadad_ being the chief idol of the Syrians. Zobah (called... [ Continue Reading ]
A THOUSAND CHARIOTS. — The word _chariots_ has evidently dropped out of the text here, but is rightly inserted, following the LXX. and 1 Chron.; 700 horsemen should also be changed to 7,000, in accordance with 1 Chron., this being a more fitting proportion to 20,000 infantry in the plains of Syria,... [ Continue Reading ]
SYRIANS OF DAMASCUS. — So called from their capital, this being the most powerful branch of the Syrian race. TWO AND TWENTY THOUSAND MEN. — Josephus (_Ant. vii._ 5, § 2) quotes from the historian Nicolaus a mention of the defeat of Hadad at this place by David.... [ Continue Reading ]
GARRISONS. — The primary meaning of this word in the original is something _placed,_ and then _placed over._ Hence it comes to have the different derived meanings of _officer_ in 1 Kings 4:5; 1 Kings 4:19; 2 Chronicles 8:10, and _garrison_ (1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 13:3), which is probably its meanin... [ Continue Reading ]
SHIELDS OF GOLD. — Solomon also “made shields of gold” (1 Kings 10:17), which appear to have been a mark of oriental magnificence. Solomon’s shields were ultimately carried off by Shishak (1 Kings 14:25). The LXX. has here a curious addition, saying that Shishak carried off the shields which David c... [ Continue Reading ]
BETAH AND FROM BEROTHAI. — There is no satisfactory clue to the situation of these places. For Betah 1 Chronicles 18:8 has _Tibhath_ in the Hebrew, a mere transposition of the letters; and for Berothai, _Chun._ Berothah is mentioned in Ezekiel 47:16, as on the boundary of Palestine between Hamath an... [ Continue Reading ]
TOI KING OF HAMATH. — The Vatican LXX. has the name, in accordance with Chron., _Tau._ Hamath, the capital of the kingdom of the same name, was situated on the Orontes. According to 1 Chronicles 18:3. David’s victory was on the borders of this kingdom. It was tributary to Solomon (1 Kings 4:24; 2 Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
JORAM=Hadoram, 1 Chronicles 18:10. Joram is probably the Jewish form of the same name. An embassy headed by the king’s son was an especially honourable one. The occasion was David’s conquest of Toi’s neighbour and constant enemy, and the large presents sent by him have something of the character of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH ALSO. — The dedication of the gifts of Toi is especially mentioned, because these were not, like those of 2 Samuel 8:7; 2 Samuel 8:11, the spoils of _conquered_ nations. David, forbidden himself to build the temple, makes every provision possible for its erection.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF SYRIA. — 1 Chronicles 18:11 reads Edom. The two names differing in the original only by one very similar letter (the _d_ and r, which are so often confused), it might be supposed that one was an error for the other, were it not that both were actually conquered and the spoils of both dedicated by... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE RETURNED FROM SMITING OF THE SYRIANS. — Possibly, from the similarity in the original between _Syria_ and _Edom_ (see 2 Samuel 8:3; 2 Samuel 8:12), the words “he smote Edom” have dropped out of the text, but this supposition is not necessary. The course of affairs appears to have been as fol... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS RECORDER. — This was a different office from that of “the scribe” (filled by Seraiah), and appears from 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Chronicles 34:8, to have been one of considerable importance. (Comp. also Esther 6:1.) His duty is supposed to have been something like that of the modern “chancellor,” and he... [ Continue Reading ]
AHIMELECH, THE SON OF ABIATHAR. — So Ahimelech is also described in 1 Chronicles 18:16; 1 Chronicles 24:6; on the other hand, Abiathar is expressly said to be the son of Ahimelech in the narrative in 1 Samuel 22:20. This difficulty is increased by the further notices of the men bearing these names.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 especial body-guard (2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 1:44; 1 Chronic... [ Continue Reading ]