Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

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S E C O N D   S A M U E L

CHAP. VIII.

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David having sought first the kingdom of God and the righteousness

thereof, settling the ark as soon as he was himself well settled, we

are here told how all other things were added to him. Here is an

account,

I. Of his conquests. He triumphed,

1. Over the Philistines,

ver. 1.

2. Over the Moabites,

ver. 2.

3. Over the king of Zobah,

ver. 3, 4.

4. Over the Syrians,

ver. 5-8, 13.

5. Over the Edomites,

ver. 14.

II. Of the presents that were brought him and the wealth he got from

the nations he subdued, which he dedicated to God,

ver. 9-12.

III. Of his court, the administration of his government

(ver. 15),

and his chief officers,

ver. 16-18.

This gives us a general idea of the prosperity of David’s reign.

David’s Conquests.	B. C. 1042.

     

1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the

Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of

the hand of the Philistines.

  2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting

them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put

to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the

Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

  3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah,

as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

  4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven

hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed

all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred

chariots.

  5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer

king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand

men.

  6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the

Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the

LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

  7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants

of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

  8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king

David took exceeding much brass.

     

God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him and made

head against him; and he having made a good use of that rest, has now

commission given him to make war upon them, and to act offensively for

the avenging of Israel’s quarrels and the recovery of their rights; for

as yet they were not in full possession of that country to which by the

promise of God they were entitled.

     

I. He quite subdued the Philistines,

v. 1.

They had attacked him when they thought him weak

(ch. v. 17),

and went by the worst then; but, when he found himself strong, he

attacked them, and made himself master of their country. They had long

been vexatious and oppressive to Israel. Saul got no ground against

them; but David completed Israel’s deliverance out of their hands,

which Samson had begun long before,

Judg. xiii. 5.

Metheg-ammah was Gath (the chief and royal city of the

Philistines) and the towns belonging to it, among which there was a

constant garrison kept by the Philistines on the hill Ammah

(2 Sam. ii. 24),

which was Metheg, a bridle (so it signifies) or

curb upon the people of Israel; this David took out of their

hand and used it as a curb upon them. Thus, when the strong man is

disarmed, the armour wherein he trusted is taken from him, and used

against him,

Luke xi. 22.

And after the long and frequent struggles which the saints have had

with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son

of David shall tread them all under their feet and make the saints more

than conquerors.

     

II. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel,

v. 2.

He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed,

casting down the strong-holds, and putting all to the sword; the third

part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Dr.

Lightfoot says, “He laid them on the ground and measured them with a

cord, who should be slain and who should live;” and this is called

meting out the valley of Succoth,
Ps. lx. 6.

The Jews say he used this severity with the Moabites because they had

slain his parents and brethren, whom he put under the protection of the

king of Moab during his exile,

1 Sam. xxii. 3, 4.

He did it in justice, because they had been dangerous enemies to the

Israel of God; and in policy, because, if left in their strength, they

still would have been so. But observe, Though it was necessary that

two-thirds should be cut off, yet the line that was to keep alive,

though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Be sure to give

that length enough; let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost

in favorem vitæ–so as to favour life. Acts of indemnity must

be construed so as to enlarge the favour. Now Balaam’s prophecy was

fulfilled, A sceptre shall arise out of Israel, and shall smite the

corners of Moab, to the utmost of which the fatal line extended,

Num. xxiv. 17.

The Moabites continued tributaries to Israel till after the death of

Ahab,

2 Kings iii. 4, 5.

Then they rebelled and were never reduced.

     

III. He smote the Syrians or Aramites. Of them there were two distinct

kingdoms, as we find them spoken of in the title of the

60th Psalm:

Aram Naharaim,–Syria of the rivers, whose head city was Damascus

(famed for its rivers,

2 Kings v. 12),

and Aram Zobah, which joined to it, but extended to Euphrates.

These were the two northern crowns.

1. David began with the Syrians of Zobah,

v. 3, 4.

As he went to settle his border at the river Euphrates (for so far the

land conveyed by the divine grant to Abraham and his seed did extend,

Gen. xv. 18),

the king of Zobah opposed him, being himself possessed of those

countries which belonged to Israel; but David routed his forces, and

took his chariots and horsemen. The horsemen are here said to be 700,

but

1 Chron. xviii. 4

they are said to be 7000. If they divided their horse by ten in a

company, as it is probable they did, the captains and companies were

700, but the horsemen were 7000. David houghed the horses, cut the

sinews of their hams, and so lamed them, and made them unserviceable,

at least in war, God having forbidden them to multiply horses,
Deut. xvii. 16.

David reserved only 100 chariots out of 1000 for his own use: for he

placed his strength not in chariots nor horses, but in the living God

(Ps. xx. 7),

and wrote it from his own observation that a horse is a vain thing

for safety,
Ps. xxxiii. 16, 17.

2. The Syrians of Damascus coming in to the relief of the king of Zobah

fell with him. 22,000 were slain in the field,

v. 5.

So that it was easy for David to make himself master of the country,

and garrison it for himself,

v. 6.

The enemies of God’s church, that think to secure themselves, will

prove, in the end, to ruin themselves, by their confederacies with each

other. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces,
Isa. viii. 9.

     

IV. In all these wars,

1. David was protected: The Lord preserved him whithersoever he

went. It seems, he went in person, and, in the cause of God and

Israel, jeoparded his own life in the high places of the field; but God

covered his head in the day of battle, which he often speaks of, in his

psalms, to the glory of God.

2. He was enriched. He took the shields of gold which the servants of

Hadadezer had in their custody

(v. 7)

and much brass from several cities of Syria

(v. 8),

which he was entitled to, not only jure belli–by the uncontrollable

right of the longest sword (“Get it, and take it”); but by

commission from heaven, and the ancient entail of these countries on

the seed of Abraham.

David Conquers Edom.	B. C. 1042.

     

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the

host of Hadadezer,

  10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him,

and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and

smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought

with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of

brass:

  11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the

silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he

subdued;

  12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of

the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer,

son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

  13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of

the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand

men.

  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 he went.

     

Here is,

1. The court made to David by the king of Hamath, who, it seems was at

this time at war with the king of Zobah. He hearing of David’s success

against his enemy, sent his own son ambassador to him

(v. 9, 10),

to congratulate him on his victory, to return him thanks for the favour

he had done him in breaking the power of one he was in fear of, and to

beg his friendship. Thus he not only secured but strengthened himself.

And David lost nothing by taking this little prince under his

protection, any more than the old Romans did by the like policy; for

the wealth he had from the countries he conquered by way of spoil he

had from this by way of present or gratuity: Vessels of silver and

gold. Better get by composition than by compulsion.

2. The offering David made to God of the spoils of the nations and all

the rich things that were brought him. He dedicated all to the Lord,

v. 11, 12.

This crowned all his victories, and made them far to out-shine

Alexander’s or Caesar’s, that they sought their own glory, but he aimed

at the glory of God. All the precious things he was master of were

dedicated things, that is, they were designed for the building of the

temple; and a good omen it was of kindness to the Gentiles in the

fulness of time, and of the making of God’s house a house of prayer for

all people, that the temple was built of the spoils and presents of

Gentile nations, in allusion to which we find the kings of the

earth bringing their glory and honour into the new

Jerusalem,
Rev. xxi. 24.

Their gods of gold David burnt

(2 Sam. v. 21),

but their vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus in the conquest of a soul,

by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must

be destroyed, every lust mortified and crucified, but what may glorify

him must be dedicated and the property of it altered. Even the

merchandise and the hire must be holiness to the Lord

(Isa. xxiii. 18),

the gain consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth

(Mic. iv. 13),

and then it is truly our own and that most comfortably.

3. The reputation he got, in a particular manner, by his victory over

the Syrians and their allies the Edomites, who acted in conjunction

with them, as appears by comparing the title of the 60th Psalm, which

was penned on this occasion, with

v. 13.

He got himself a name for all that conduct and courage which are

the praise of a great and distinguished general. Something

extraordinary, it is likely, there was in that action, which turned

very much to his honour, yet he is careful to transfer the honour to

God, as appears by the psalm he penned on this occasion,

v. 12.

It is through God that we do valiantly.

4. His success against the Edomites. They all became David’s servants,

v. 14.

Now, and not till now, Isaac’s blessing was accomplished, by which

Jacob was made Esau’s Lord

(Gen. xxvii. 37-40)

and the Edomites continued long tributary to the kings of Judah, as the

Moabites were to the kings of Israel, till, in Joram’s time, they

revolted

(2 Chron. xxi. 8)

as Isaac had there foretold that Esau should, in process of time, break

the yoke from off his neck. Thus David by his conquests,

(1.) Secured peace to his son, that he might have time to build the

temple. And,

(2.) Procured wealth for his son, that he might have wherewith to build

it. God employs his servants variously, some in one employment, others

in another, some in the spiritual battles, others in the spiritual

buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the

glory of all. All David’s victories were typical of the success of the

gospel against the kingdom of Satan, in which the Son of David rode

forth, conquering and to conquer, and he shall reign till he has

brought down all opposing rule, principality, and power: and he has, as

David had

(v. 2),

a line to kill and a line to save; for the same gospel is to some a

savour of life unto life, to others a savour of death unto death.

David’s Administration of the Government of Israel.	B. C. 1042.

     

15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed

judgment and justice unto all his people.

  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 was the scribe;

  18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the

Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief

rulers.

     

David was not so engaged in his wars abroad as to neglect the

administration of the government at home.

     

I. His care extended itself to all the parts of his dominion: He

reigned over all Israel

(v. 15);

not only he had a right to reign over all the tribes, but he did so;

they were all safe under his protection, and shared in the fruits of

his good government.

     

II. He did justice with an unbiased unshaken hand: He executed

judgment unto all his people, neither did wrong nor denied or

delayed right to any. This intimates,

1. His industry and close application to business, his easiness of

access and readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him.

All his people, even the meanest, and those too of the meanest tribes,

were welcome to his council-board.

2. His impartiality and the equity of his proceedings, in administering

justice. He never perverted justice through favour or affection, nor

had respect of persons in judgment. Herein he was a type of Christ, who

was faithful and true, and who doth in righteousness both judge and

make war,
Rev. xix. 11.

See

Ps. lxxii. 1, 2.

     

III. He kept good order and good officers in his court. David being the

first king that had an established government (for Saul’s reign was

short and unsettled) he had the modelling of the administration. In

Saul’s time we read of no other great officer than Abner, that was

captain of the host. But David appointed more officers: Joab that was

general of the forces in the field, and Banaiah that was over the

Cherethites and Pelethites, who were either the city train-bands

(archers and slingers, so the Chaldee), or rather the

life-guards, or standing force, that attended the king’s person, the

pretorian band, the militia. They were ready to do service at home, to

assist in the administering of justice, and to preserve the public

peace. We find them employed in proclaiming Solomon,

1 Kings i. 38.

2. Two ecclesiastical officers: Zadok and Ahimelech were

priests, that is, they were most employed in the priests’ work

under Abiathar, the high priest.

3. Two civil officers: one that was recorder, or remembrancer, to put

the king in mind of business in its season (he was prime minister of

state, yet not entrusted with the custody of the king’s conscience, as

they say of our lord chancellor, but only of the king’s memory; let the

king be put in mind of business and he would do it himself); another

that was scribe, or secretary of state, that drew up public orders and

despatches, and recorded judgments given.

4. David’s sons, as they grew up to be fit for business, were made

chief rulers; they had places of honour and trust assigned them, in the

household, or in the camp, or in the courts of justice, according as

their genius led them. They were chief about the king (so it is

explained,

1 Chron. xviii. 17),

employed near him, that they might be under his eye. Our Lord Jesus has

appointed officers in his kingdom, for his honour and the good of the

community; when he ascended on high he gave these gifts

(Eph. iv. 8-11),

to every man his work,
Mark xiii. 34.

David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ’s spiritual

seed, are better preferred, for they are made to our God kings and

priests,
Rev. i. 6.

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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708)

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