“Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Daughters. Villages (See 2 Kings viii. 1.; Menochius) and dependant towns. (Worthington)
“And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.”
Gifts. Hebrew mincha, a word used to denote the offerings of bread, &c., Leviticus ii. Here it signifies the tribute (Calmet) imposed on the conquered. (Haydock)
“And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. Hadarezer: or, Hadadezer”
Adarezer, or Adadezer, 2 Kings. — When he, the king of Soba, went to extend. Hebrew, “to strengthened his hand on the,” &c. — Hand often denotes power, extent, possession.
“And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen : David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots. seven: or, seven hundred”
Footmen. Hebrew may well signify, “1000 chariot-horses and 7000 men who mounted the chariots and the horses.” We only find 1700 horsemen, 2 Kings viii. 4. But soon after it is added, David houghed all the chariot-horses. (Calmet) — They were thus rendered useless. The king was forbidden to keep many horses. (Du Hamel)
“And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Damascus: Heb. Darmesek”
Damascus. Hebrew, “Aram of Darmesek.” Elsewhere the r is omitted.
“Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus ; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.”
A garrison. Literally, “soldiers.” This word has been lost by the neglect of some Hebrew transcriber. (Calmet) — Protestants supply it. (Haydock)
“And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.”
Quivers. Hebrew, “the shields,” &c. The term is variously translated, 2 Kings.
“Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. Tibhath: called in the book of Samuel Betah, and Berothai”
Chun, called probably Betath, and Berothai, 2 Kings.
“He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass. Hadoram: also called, Joram to enquire: or, to salute to congratulate: Heb. to bless had war: Heb. was the man of wars”
Adoram, or Joram, 2 Kings. — Desire. Hebrew, “to ask if all went well with him, and to bless him.
“Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.”
Edom, or rather Syria, (Aram) which might easily be exchanged for Edom, 2 Kings viii. David could not satisfy his devotion by building a temple; but he made preparations. Solomon left part of the treasures unconsumed, 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. 26. (Calmet) — These effects, being destined for sacred uses, are said to be consecrated to the Lord. (Worthington)
“Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. Abishai: Heb. Abshai”
Edomites. David seems to have been present, and the victory is sometimes attributed to him. Joab afterwards slew 18,000, 3 Kings xi. 15., and title of Psalm ix. (St. Jerome, Trad.) (Calmet) — Pits. This place was fatal to that nation: there Amasias destroyed 20,000, 2 Paralipomenon xxv. 12. (Tirinus)
“And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; Abimelech: called Ahimelech Sam. Shavsha: called Seraiah in Sam. and Shisha, I.King.4.2.”
Abiathar and Achimelech had both names indifferently. Hebrew 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.
“And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king. about: Heb. at the hand of the king”
About. Literally, “at the hand of the king,” to execute his orders, and to assist him. Septuagint, “vicegerents.” Syriac, “princes.” They are styled priests, 2 Kings viii. 18.