2 Samuel 8:1--10:19
Later <0310> [A.M. 2964. B.C. 1040. An. Ex. Is. 451. And after.]
Metheg <04965> [Metheg-ammah. or, the bridle of Ammah.]
[Gath.]
In the parallel passage of Chronicles, we read, "David took Gath and her towns;" and it is probable, that Gath and its districts were called Metheg-ammah in David's time; which, being unusual or becoming obsolete, in the time of the author of the Chronicles, led him thus to explain it.
defeated <05221> [he smote.]
measure ... off ... put <04058> [measured.]
Moabites ............................... Moabites <04124> [And so.]
brought tribute <04503 05375> [brought gifts.]
Hadadezer <01909> [Hadadezer.]
[Hadarezer. Zobah.]
Euphrates <05104> [at the river.]
1,700 .... 20,000 <0505> [from him. or, of his. chariots.]
As 1 Ch 18:4 seven hundred. In the parallel place in Chronicles it is "seven thousand horsemen, a far more probable number. The letter [Zayin,] {zayin,} with a dot upon it stands for seven thousand, and the final letter N–wn,] {noon,} for seven hundred: the great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce an error in this place.
David .......... David cut the hamstrings <06131 01732> [David houghed.]
but <03498> [reserved.]
Arameans ................. Arameans <0758> [And when.]
<0935> [came.]
Zobah <06678> [Zobah.]
From 2 Ch 8:3, we learn that Zobah was the district in which Tadmor or Palymyra was situated; and consequently lay between the land of Israel and the Euphrates. The capital was probably the same as the Sabe mentioned by Ptolemy as a city of Arabia Deserta.
garrisons <05333> [garrisons.]
subjects <05650> [became.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
shields <07982> [shields.]
Tebah <0984> [Betah.]
Probably the same as Bathne in Syria, between Bero‘ea and Hierapolis.
[Tibhath, Chun. Berothai.]
Berothai is probably the Barathena of Ptolemy, which he mentions, along with Sabe, as a city of Arabia Deserta, in the confines of the Palmyrenian district.
<03966> [exceeding.]
Toi <08583> [Toi.]
[Tou. Hamath.]
Joram ............................... brought <03141 03027> [Joram.]
[Hadoram. salute him. Heb. ask him of peace.]
blessing ...... victory <01288 03898> [to bless him.]
<0376> [had wars. Heb. was a man of wars. brought with him. Heb. in his hand were.]
King ........................... subdued <04428 03533> [Which.]
Aram <0758> [Syria.]
famous <06213 08034> [gat him.]
defeating <05221> [smiting. Heb. his smiting. the valley of salt.]
18,000 <08083> [being. or, slaying.]
Edom ..... Edomites <0123> [all they.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Israel <03478> [over all Israel.]
David ...... he guaranteed <06213 01732> [David executed.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Jehoshaphat <03092> [Jehoshaphat.]
secretary <02142> [recorder. or, remembrancer, or writer of chronicles.]
Zadok <06659> [Zadok.]
Seraiah <08304> [and Seraiah.]
[Shavsha. scribe. or, secretary.]
Benaiah <01141> [Benaiah.]
Kerithites <03774> [the Cherethites.]
priests <03548> [chief rulers. or, princes.]
extend kindness <06213 02617> [shew him.]
servant ........................ service <05650> [a servant.]
Ziba .............. Ziba <06717> [was Ziba.]
God's kindness <02617 0430> [the kindness of God.]
That is, the highest degree of kindness; as the hail of God is very great hail; the mountains of God exceeding high mountains; besides which, this kindness was according to the covenant of God made between him and Jonathan.
sons <01121> [yet a son.]
Makir <04353> [Machir.]
Lo Debar <03810> [Lo-debar.]
This place appears to have been situated beyond Jordan; and was probably, as Reland supposes, the same as Debir or Lidbir, Jos 13:26.
Mephibosheth ....................... Mephibosheth <04648> [Mephibosheth.]
[called Meribbaal. he fell.]
be afraid ..... certainly extend <03372 06213> [Fear not.]
certainly extend <06213> [for I will. See on ver.]
guest <03899 0398> [eat bread.]
dead dog <03611 04191> [a dead dog.]
give <05414> [I have given.]
food ....... eat <0398 03899> [shall eat bread.]
The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonious, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands those passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, as pointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. So in a MS. Note on 1 Ki 2:7, he tells us that it was to be understood of the {majilis,} (the term for an assembly of lords, or a public feast,) and not of the daily and ordinary repast. Hence, though Mephibosheth was to eat at all public times at the king's table, yet he would want the produce of his lands for food at other times, which it was necessary for Ziba to understand.
Ziba <06717> [Ziba.]
lord <0113> [According.]
son <01121> [son.]
[Micah. servants.]
guest <0398> [he did eat.]
crippled <06455> [was lame.]
[AM 2967. B.C. 1037. An. Ex. Is. 454. king.]
express ... loyalty ............ loyal <02617 06213> [shew kindness.]
Nahash <05176> [Nahash.]
father .................. father's <01> [as his father.]
think David ................. David <05869 01732> [Thinkest thou that David doth. Heb. In thine eyes doth]
David. not.
shaved off <01548> [and shaved.]
The beard is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge; for its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans. The Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the {seraglios} have their beards shaven, as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer them to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for anyone to appear with his beard cut off, than among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment.
cut the <03772> [cut off.]
Jericho <03405> [Jericho.]
disgusted <0887> [stank.]
Aram Beth Rehob ... Aram <01050 0758> [Syrians of Beth-rehob.]
[Zobah.]
Maacah <04601> [Maacah.]
<0382> [Ish-tob. or, the men of Tob.]
army <06635> [all the host.]
entrance <06607> [at the entering.]
This was at the city of Medeba, a city upon the borders of the Ammonites, and in their possession.
Rehob <07340> [Rehob.]
strong .... bravely <02388> [Be of good.]
This is a very animating address, and equal to any thing of the kind in ancient or modern times. Ye fight {pro aris et focis;} for every good, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your countries. Such harangues, especially in very trying circumstances, are very natural, and may perhaps be found in the records of every nation. Several instances might be quoted from Roman and Grecian history; but few are more remarkable than that of Tyrtaeus, the lame Athenian poet, to whom the command of the army was given in one of the Messenian wars. The Spartans had at that time suffered great losses, and all their stratagems proved ineffectual, so that they began to despair of success; when the poet, by his lectures on honour and courage, delivered in moving verse to the army, ravished them to such a degree with the thoughts of dying for their country, that, rushing on with a furious transport to meet their enemies, they gave them an entire overthrow, and by one decisive battle brought the war to a happy conclusion.
strong .... bravely <02388> [play.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
fled <05127> [they fled.]
consolidated <0622> [A.M. 2968. B.C. 1036. An. Ex. Is. 455. gathered.]
<01928> [Hadarezer.]
Euphrates River <05104> [the river. i.e., Euphrates. Shobach. or, Shophach.]
gathered <0622> [he gathered.]
fled <05127> [fled.]
foot soldiers <06571> [horsemen.]
[footmen. Shobach.]
subject <05650> [servants.]
subjects <03372> [feared.]
