And they left their images,.... Their idol gods, which they brought with them to protect and defend them, and give them success; perhaps in imitation of the Israelites, who formerly brought the ark of God into their camp against the Philistines, 1 Samuel 4:3; and it appears to have been the custom of other countries, in later times, to bring their gods with them to battle x:

and David and his men burnt them: that is, his men burnt them at his command, 1 Chronicles 14:12; agreeably to the law of God, that so no profit might be made of them, Deuteronomy 7:5; the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and others, render it, "and took them", or "carried them away" y; as they might do, and, after they had exposed them in triumph, then burnt them.

x "Omnigenumque Deum", c. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 8. y וישאם και ελαβοσαν αυτους, Sept. "tulit", V. L. Tigurine version, Montanus "sustulit", Junius Tremellius, Piscator.

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