This chapter gives a relation of the wars of David with his enemies, and his victories over them, particularly the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, and of the spoils he took from them, and of the presents made to him by others, 2 Sam.

And after this it came to pass After David had rest from his enemies for a time, and after the conversation he had had with Nathan about building the house of God, and after the message sent to him from the Lord by that prophet, forbidding him to build, and David’s prayer to the Lord upon it, the…

And he smote Moab He next went against that, and invaded it, the people of it being always troublesome and distressing to the children of Israel; and though the king of it had shown some favour to David, yet it was when he considered him as an enemy to Saul, and Saul to him; but things having taken…

And David also smote Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah Called sometimes Aramzobah, and was a part of Syria, as its name shows. Benjamin, of Tudela [[7]] takes it to be the same with Haleb or Aleppo; Josephus [[8]] calls it Sophene; but that is placed by Ptolemy as he went to recover his…

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen “Chariots” are not in the text here, it is only 1700 “horsemen”; but it is supplied from ; where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand as in the Septuagint version here, and in…

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah These seem to have had no king at this time, or, if they had, Hadadezer was their king, which is not improbable; and Nicholas of Damascus [[13]]; an Heathen writer, is clear for it, whom he calls Adad, who, he says, reigned…

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus Which was Coele-Syria, and lay between Libanus and Antilibanus, the chief city of which was Damascus; which Curtius [[15]] calls Damascus of Syria, being the head of it, ; in the principal places of which he put garrisons of soldiers to keep the country…

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer That were found with them, which they had in their hands; these must be supposed to be with the principal officers of his army; or golden chains, as Aquila, or golden bracelets on their arms, as the Septuagint; the Syriac…

And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer Which, in , are called Tibhath and Chun, they having different names; or their names might be changed upon this conquest of them, and the one might be the names they went by with the Syrians, and the other the Israelites called them by; the…

When Toi king of Hamath Which was another small kingdom in Syria, perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer, and this the first king of it, at least the first we hear of; his name is Tou in ; where in the Targum he is called king of Antioch.

Then Toi sent Joram his son unto King David Who is called Hadoram in ; though the Syriac and Arabic versions read Joram there: to salute him: to inquire of his welfare after his fatigue in the battles he had had with the Moabites and Syrians, and to wish him all happiness and prosperity for the…

Which also King David did dedicate unto the Lord He devoted it to sacred uses, particularly to the building of the house of the Lord, as he also had the gold and the brass he took from Hadadezer: together with the silver and the gold he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; who are after…

Of Syria Of Syria of Damascus, as distinct from Syriazobah, Hadadezer was king of, after mentioned; this is omitted in ; and of Moab: who brought him gifts and presents, and were tributaries to him, ; and of the children of Ammon; who very probably joined the Moabites, and were conquered and…

And David gat him a name Fame and reputation in the several nations of the world for valour and courage, for the many and signal victories that he obtained; the Jewish writers generally refer this to his humanity in burying the dead bodies of his enemies slain in war, which gained him great esteem…

And he put garrisons in Edom To keep the inhabitants in subjection to him; as their forts and strong holds came into his hands, he placed companies of soldiers in them for the said purpose; or governors, as the Targum, men of his own nation, into whose hands he put their principal cities, who…

And David reigned over all Israel Not only over Judah, but over all the tribes of Israel, and over the whole land of Canaan, as promised to Abraham, ; reaching to the river Euphrates, as Syria did, now conquered by David: and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people; when he returned…

And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host Which was not only owing to his relation to David, being his sister’s son, but to his promise that whoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain; that is, should have the command of the army under him; this Joab did; and so was entitled…

And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests Not high priests, as Josephus [[8]] suggests, for there was only one high priest at a time; indeed there was a “sagan”, or deputy priest, on occasion; and so Abarbinel says that Zadok was the high priest, and Ahimelech…

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and Pelethites These, according to Josephus [[9]], were the king’s bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards, (2 Sam. 23:22, 2 Sam.