Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. VIII.

Vers. 1. ANd after this it came to passe, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them.] In this chapter the warres and victories of David are recorded, both to discover one cause amongst others, why the Lord appointed him to give over his purpose of building the temple, to wit, because he should not have leasure to do it, by reason of his many warres; and also to shew how the Lord per∣formed his promises made to David in the former chapter, concerning the prosperi∣ty and flourishing estate of his kingdome and people.

And David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.] That is, Gath and her towns, 1. Chron. 18.1. This Gath called afterwards Dio-caesaria, stood on the frontier of Palestina at the entrance into Judea and Ephraim, and the mountainous tract of ground whereon it stood, was it seems called Ammah, or Am∣gar, whereupon it was called, Metheg-ammah or the bridle of ammah, because being a town of great strength, it was as it were the bridle whereby the whole coun∣trey about was kept in aw.

Vers. 2. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground, &c.] The Moabites were alwayes deadly enemies to the Israe∣lites, as is evident, Num. 22.1, 2, &c. and therefore though the king of Moab gave entertainment to Davids father and mother, taking him then to be an enemy to Saul

and his people, 1. Sam. 22.3, 4. David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab, and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. Yet when David was once established king of Israel, it is likely the Moabites bare now the same hostile mind against David, which they had formerly against Saul, and might give just occasion to David to make warre against them: yea indeed the Lord had commanded the Israelites alwayes to account them enemies, Deut, 23.6. Thou shalt not seek their peace, nor their prosperity, all thy dayes for ever; and thereupon, he smote Moab and measured them with a line, that is, he did so absolutely vanquish them, that they were wholly at his mercy, he might dis∣pose of them as seemed good to himself, slaying and sparing whom he pleased, and had made such havock in the countrey, levelling their towns and cities with the ground, that it lay open before him to be measured with a line, to be divided and disposed of, as a place newly to be planted and inhabited; this phrase of measuring with a line, is grounded upon the custome of absolute conquerours, who having got∣ten a land into their power, do divide it amongst those that shall dwell in it, as the Israelites did the land of Canaan, or else, it is a similitude borrowed from husband∣men that measure out land, some for tillage, some for wood, some for pasture; or rather from carpenters, who with a line strike their timber to set out how much shall be hewed off, and how much reserved for the building; implying that even so Da∣vid slew and kept alive of the Moabites taken prisoners whom he pleased, even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive, that is, he slew two third parts of the people, and one third part he kept alive, that the land might not lie wholly desolate, and so now was that prophesie in part ful∣filled, Numb. 24.17. There shall come a starre out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the chil∣dren of Sheth; and Moab became Davids washpot, as David sung, Psal. 60.8. Moab is my washpot, over Edom will I cast my shoe, which was composed at this time.

And so the Moabites became Davids servants, and brought gifts.] To wit, by way of tribute.

Vers. 3. David smote also Hadadezer the sonne of Rehob king of Zo∣bah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.] With this Hada∣dezer (or Hadarezer, 1. Chron. 18.3.) king of Zobah, called Syria Zobah, and with his father Rehob Saul had warres, 1. Sam. 14.47. He grew now exceeding powerfull, and had it seems subjected Damascus or Aram (another part of Syria lying north east of the land of Canaan, as Syria Zobah also did; for the Syrians of Damascus were engaged in this warre no doubt by his command, vers. 5. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, Da∣vid slew of the Syrians twenty thousand men; and 1. Kings 11.23. Rezon a servant to this Hadadezer taking advantage of this overthrow of his Lord mentioned, chap. 10.16, 17, 18. gathered together a band of souldiers, happely the remainder of Ha∣dadezers broken troups, and made himself king of Damascus, and as it seems of all that was his Lords. David therefore considering how mighty this neighbour king

began to be, who was alwayes an enemie to the Israelites, and knowing of this his expedition, for the recovering or establishing the border of his dominion at the river Euphrates, he raised an army under the command of Joab (as is evident in the title of the 60. Psalme, To the chief musician upon Shushan-Eduth, Michtam of David, to teach. When he strove with Aram Naharaim, and with Aram Zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelve thousand) and A∣bishai, 1. Chron. 18.12. and so encountering with Hadadezer (who must need passe either through some part of Davids kingdome on the other side Jordan, or close by it) he utterly overthrew his armies. Others conceive indeed, that it is David of whom it is here said, that he went to recover his border, at the river Euphrates, & that upon that occasion he vanquished Hadadezer, that sought to oppose him; but however, thus that prophecy was in part fulfilled, Gen. 15.18. that the Lord would give unto Abrahams seed that land, even unto the great river Euphrates, that countrey becoming now tributary to David: and upon the occasion of this victory, David composed the 60 Psalme, as is evident in the title before expressed.

Vers. 4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, &c.] That is, seven hundred decuries, seven hundred companies or ranks of horsemen, having tenne in each company, or in each rank: for so it must neces∣sarily be expounded, to reconcile this with, 1. Chron. 18.4. where it is said, that David took from them seven thousand horsemen, unlesse the chief be here onely ex∣pressed, and all there.

And David houghed all the chariot horses, &c.] He reserved onely for an hun∣dred chariots, as having respect to that which God had said of the kings of Israel, Deut. 17.16. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to re∣turn to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses, the rest he houghed to make them unserviceable for the warres, though usefull otherwayes, as we see the like done by the Lords direction, Josh. 11.6. Thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Vers. 7, And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Ha∣dadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.] And so laid them by for the building of the Temple, vers. 11.

Vers. 8. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brasse.] These cities are called Tibhath, and Chun, 1. Chron. 18.8. Happely, because their names were afterwards changed, when that history was written.

Vers. 10. Then Toi sent Joram his sonne unto king David to salute him, and to blesse him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, &c.] That is, to congra∣tulate his victory, and withall no doubt, for fear of David; this Joram the sonne of Toi is also called Adoram, 1. Chron. 18.10.

Vers. 11. Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold, &c.] Thus Christ vanquishing Sathan, converted the spoyles to the use of the Church, and the glory of God; those that had been in bondage to him, he made Apostles and teachers, and those precious arts which had formerly been used in the devils service, were afterward employed in the building of the Church.

Vers. 12. Of Syria and Moab, and of the children of Ammon, &c.] See chap. 10.22.

Vers. 13. And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.] That is, David grew very famous by those victories, especially because returning with his armies, he ob∣tained another very glorious victory in the valley of salt, wherein he slew eighteen thousand of his enemies; this valley of salt was it seems, in the countrey of the Edo∣mites, 2. Kings 14.7. He slew of Edom in the valley of salt, ten thousand, and took Selah by warre; yet the enemies which there he slew, are here called Syrians, though they are said to be Edomites, both in the title of the 60. Psalme, To the chief musician upon Shushan eduth Michtam of David, to teach. When he strove with Aram Zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt, twelve thou∣sand, and in 1. Chron. 18.12. Moreover Abishai the sonne of Zeruiah, slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand. But the reason of this must needs be, because many of the Syrians were now joyned with the Edomites, in this battel which they fought with David. And as for the number of the enemies slain, which is diversely related here, and 1. Chron. 18.12. and in the title of the 60. Psalme, the most probable opinion is, that Abishai did at first set on them, and slew six thousand, that afterward Joab came upon them, and slew twelve thousand moe, as is expressed, Psal. 60. in the title, all which together, makes eighteen thousand as here; which whole summe of eighteen thousand is ascribed to Abishai, 1. Chron. 18.12. because he first beg••n the battel, and brake the troops of the enemie; and here to David, because both Joab and Abishai were his captains, and fought under his conduct and command.

Vers. 14. And he put garrisons in Edom, &c.] And thus they became tributa∣ries, and had hence forth, even unto the dayes of Jehosaphat, a vice-roy or deputy appointed over them, 1. Kings 22.47. There was no king in Edom, a Deputy was king. That prophecy therefore concerning Esau and Jacob, that the elder should serve the younger, Gen. 25.23. began now to be litterally accomplished: more of this story, and of the flight of Hadad into Egypt, see 1. Kings 11.14.

Vers. 16. And Joab the sonne of Zeruiah was over the host.] Joab was the sonne of Zeruiah Davids sister, but was made Generall of his forces, because of that exploit of his, in winning the castle of Sion from the Jebusites, 1. Chron. 11.6. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief, and captain. So Joab the sonne of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

Vers. 17. And Zadok the sonne of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the sonne of Abi∣athar were the priests.] Zadok was of the stock of Eleazar, 1. Chron. 6.4.8. and was afterward by Solomon made high priest, in the room of Abiathar, 1. Kings 2.35. Ahimelech the other priest here named, was of the stock of Ithamar, and as it seems, the sonne of Abiathar, who fled to David from Saul, 1. Sam. 22.20. these were the priests in Davids time, that is, they were the two chief priests of these two severall stocks, and had the chief command (under the high priest Abiathar the fa∣ther of this Ahimelech) of the other priests, each over the priests of his own family: for David had divided the priests into two parts, according to the two families of Eleazar and Ithamar, 1. Chron. 24.3.4. And David distributed them, both Za∣dok of the sonnes of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sonnes of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. And there were moe chief men found of the sonnes

of Eleazar, then of the sonnes of Ithamar, and thus they were divided; Among the house of Eleazar, there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight of the sonnes of Ithamar, according to the house of their fathers; and these two were appointed to be chief of each family, and to have the over-sight of the rest.

Vers. 18. And Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites, and the Pelethites.] The opinion of Interpretours differeth much concerning these Cherethites, and Pelethites, so that it is hard to say what they were, or why they were so called. The most probable opinion is this, that they were two bands of se∣lect souldiers, chosen to attend upon the kings person, as his guard, at least in their courses, chap. 15.18. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Che∣rethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites six hundred men, which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king: and 20 7. And there went out af∣ter him Joabs men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the sonne of Bichri: and 1. Kings 1.38.44. So Zadok the Priest, and Nathan the Prophet, and Benaiah the sonne of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down and caused king Solomon to ride upon King Davids mule; but why were they so called? Some derive their names from certain Hebrew words, which may imply, that the Chere∣thites were the kings executioners that did cut off malefactours, and the Pelethites were excellent men, and chosen to defend his person: but because we find, that the Philistines were called Cherethites, 1. Sam. 30.14. We made an invasion upon the South of the Cherethites, and upon the coasts which belongeth to Judah: and Che∣rethims, Ezek 25.16. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will stretch out mire hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims; and the nation of the Cherethites, Zeph. 2.4, 5. Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Wo unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites: the word of the Lord is against you: I rather subscribe to those that hold, that the Cherethites were such garrison souldiers of the Israelites, as were seated in Chereth of the Philistines, from whom there was still a band chosen to attend the kings person, as the guard of his body, because they were the most expert and able souldiers; and so also the Pele∣thites might be garrison souldiers amongst the Japhlethites, Josh. 16.3. And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti.

And Davids sonnes were chief rulers.] In 1. Chron. 18.17. chief about the king.