Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:9 - 8:18
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
David's Prestige Recognized
v. 9. When Toi, king of Hamath, a district of Syria on the Orontes River, heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
v. 10. then Toi sent Joram, his son (also known as Hadoram), unto King David, to salute him, with the usual greetings of peace, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi, he had been waging continual war with Toi with the purpose of subduing his land. David's victory had freed him from a dangerous enemy, and therefore Toi wisely sought an alliance with the powerful victor. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass, gifts almost like those of a tributary king,
v. 11. which also, like the metal brought as booty from the Syrian war, King David did dedicate unto the Lord, placing them into the treasury of the Tabernacle, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued, including the Ammonites, the Amalekites, and the Edomites;
v. 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.
v. 13. And David gat him a name, he gained renown, his fame spread far and wide, when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, being eighteen thousand men, namely, of the Edomites. It seems that the children of Edom took the opportunity offered by David's absence in the Syrian country to make an attack on Southern Canaan. They had advanced to the Southern end of the Dead Sea when the army of David, just back from the Syrian war, fell upon them with such disastrous results.
v. 14. And he put garrisons in Edom; through out all Edom put he garrisons, the character of the country demanding such a complete garrisoning, and all they of Edom became David's servants, tributary vassals. And the lord preserved David whithersoever he went; it was due to God's protection, to his blessing, that David was so successful in his campaign.
v. 15. And David reigned over all Israel, the reunited nation. And David, taking advantage of the peaceful conditions following the conquest of the various nations, executed judgment and justice unto all his people; he built up his influence among his own people by a wise and just rule, ordering and administering the affairs of the nation with great care.
v. 16. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the host, had supreme command of the army; and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was recorder, chronicler and preserver of the most important happenings in the kingdom;
v. 17. and Zadok, the son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazar, Aaron's son, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, of the line of Eli, were the priests, that is, the high priests, one probably officiating at the Tabernacle on the heights of Gibeon, 1Ch_16:39, the other in the tent at Jerusalem; and Seraiah was the scribe, secretary of state;
v. 18. and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the king's body-guard, who not only carried out the royal orders, but also executed the royal death sentences, being executioners and runners; and David's sons were chief rulers, serving as confidential counselors. Like David, all believers labor and battle during their whole life for the honor of the Lord, serve Him with body and soul, and willingly sacrifice of the blessing which the Lord has given them.