This valley lay at the south end of the Salt (Dead) Sea. There is no place where there is a greater danger of distraction on the one hand or of form on the other. It is a human inference drawn from the fact of His divine glory. Do you suppose, beloved brethren, that any trial which happens to you, whatever its character, is without Him? Probably David's former friend ( 1 Samuel 22:3) had been succeeded by a ruler of a different spirit. And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake." And who was there in Israel that did not know it? He knew right well what the ways would be, not merely of Saul, but of David. (l) Aeneid. David was able to accomplish so much against Gods enemies because he, unlike Saul, was not consumed with fighting against the people of God. Oh, it is a sorrowful thing to say, he was displeased with the God of Israel. No; there was a heart that loved them better than they loved him: there was one that sought Jehovah's glory for them, and who valued the throne because it was Jehovah's gift. The Cherethites and Pelethites: These were hired soldiers from Crete. The battles summarized in 2 Samuel 8:3-12 probably occurred after the ones reported in chapters 10-12. It is no longer a question of the enemy, but of the ark; for how could David's spirit rest if the great symbol of Jehovah's presence in Israel was wanting? There are two mountains that have a place proper to them the mount of law and the mount of grace. Nevertheless God's firm purpose stands; and now we are about to read in the second Book of Samuel how from this wretchedly low estate God raises up the man that He had chosen from the sheep-cotes to feed Israel like a flock, until he is established firmly by grace in Zion. It is happily no strange tale to almost all of us, being the account of David's wonderful grace to Mephibosheth. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Galatians 4:4). 4:13), and then it is truly our own and that most comfortably. v. 3, 2), "Judaeos Creta insula profugos novissima Libyae insedisse memorant," and that of Steph. So David reigned: This chapter of victory, blessing, and prosperity describes the national life of Israel during the reign of David. And what can David say more unto thee? This argument cannot be invalidated by the remark "that it is well known that at all times kings and princes have preferred to commit the protection of their persons to foreign mercenaries, having, as they thought, all the surer pledge of their devotedness in the fact that they did not spring from the nation, and were dependent upon the ruler alone" (Hitzig). "And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, crave the new cart." If David now is established king of Israel, could he but desire the establishment of the sign that the true God was there? Mitchell.] Although the pretender might be exceedingly vexatious, and an injury to the people too, nevertheless violent methods would have ill become the king that God had chosen in grace. II. Secondly, it is also precluded by the strangeness of such a combination of two synonymous names to denote the royal body-guard. Was there a reproach from David? "Thus he fulfilled Balaam's . The king felt things after a too human sort. III. God loves to take people and things that are trophies for the devil and make them trophies to His power and grace. Chief rulers - The word kohen, here rendered a "chief ruler," is the regular word for a priest. [Note: See Armerding, pp. I take for granted that the Chaldee paraphrast is correct. David could not care for so many horses while on a military campaign and he could not give them back to the enemy. This I believe to be a most offensive thing in the sight of God; and it is shown by the person isolating himself in heart and ways from all that tries as well as exercises heart and conscience. Lastly, the administrative order and government of David are brought before us in due season, as well as his own place as supreme. He had no respect of persons in judgment. 2 Samuel 18:8 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary Bible Our Library Bible Commentaries John Gill's Exposition of the Bible 2 Samuel 2 Samuel 18 2 Samuel 18:8 2 Samuel 18:8 PREVIOUS 2 Samuel 18:7 NEXT 2 Samuel 18:9 2 Samuel 18:8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country "Who could believe it possible that two synonymous epithets should be joined together in this manner, which would be equivalent to saying Englishmen and Britons?" I venture to answer there was not. And who was there out of Israel too, round about among the Amalekites or the Moabites or any others, who did not know that David was the one marked out for the throne, and that Saul, for this very reason, because he knew that his own house would fail before that of David, could not forgive such a loss and affront. Nevertheless we see great tenderness toward him on the part of David, and this the more because he knew his own title to be indisputable. Israel lost control of most of this territory later. and Thenius (on 1 Kings 1:38) both adopt this explanation; but the majority of the modern theologians decide in favour of Lakemacher's opinion, to which Ewald has given currency, viz., that the Crethi or Cari are Cretes or Carians, and the Pelethi Philistines (vid., Ewald, Krit. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. [Note: G. J. Wenham, "Were Davids Sons Priests?" And David commanded his young men, and they slew them.". There were three reasons why they insisted on this: His life was more valuable ( you are worth ten thousand of us ). 2 Samuel 18 2 Samuel 19 2 Samuel 20 2 Samuel 21 2 Samuel 22 2 Samuel 23 2 Samuel 24 Share Tweet Save Popular Articles. As his kingdom expanded, he developed and organized his administration. There is nothing so humble as waiting on the Lord, and quietly doing His will as God makes it known; nor is anything really so firm, although unbelief counts and boldly declares it the greatest presumption to know it. This follows in the next chapter, and there again how truly men mistook the heart of the king. I do not mean to say that he did not value it in itself, but I do affirm that it never entered the heart of David to seek the throne for himself. When souls are brought out of hindrances, when they are brought out of a false position, there is many a confession made which shows that the truth had pierced their consciences long before: only will, the world, the difficulties of family connection, a thousand snares, hindered fidelity to the Lord. . [Note: Youngblood, p. 10; 2 Samuel 21:15-22; 2 Samuel 23:8-23). "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? (s. v. ), to the effect that the city of Gaza was once called Minoa, from Minos a king of Crete, - statements which, according to the correct estimate of Strauss (l.c. Thus "David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. But he did not forget his life and general character, because of the grave mistake that opposed David and turned out fatal to himself. In the reign of David, he both attacked and subdued these troublesome enemies. Israel rapidly grew prosperous with the wealth it received from these and other conquered states (9-12). Evidently David had plenty of horses and did not need to use all that he captured in war. 2 Samuel 8:1-18 - The Preacher's Homiletical Commentary - Bblia Plus Abarbinel thinks that this respects not only David's sons, but Benaiah, and the family of the Cherethites and Pelethites, who had none of them particular posts assigned them, which were settled and known, as those before mentioned had, but were always near at hand, to do whatsoever the king commanded them; and which seems better to agree with the literal order and construction of the words; which are: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and Pelethites. 8). l. 7. c. 5. It need only be briefly touched on. It is the Lord dealing with earthly things, not merely from heaven. But I am far from saying that we have more than a pledge as yet of good things to come, chequered alas' by the too evident fact that the first man is not the Second. p. 366. "Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." And secondly, "it is a priori altogether improbable, that a man with so patriotic a heart, and so devoted to the worship of the one God, should have surrounded himself with a foreign and heathen body-guard" (Thenius). No weapons then known were equally powerful with these; the spears, swords, and javelins, of other nations, were as stubble before them. But soon we find Abner and Joab coming into opposition and collision. What an answer to David's displeasure! They hold the judgment of the dead, but in general merge in it that of the quick, which is to lose it. It is true that he himself had met with a hospitable reception in the land of the Philistines; but it must be borne in mind that it was not as king of Israel that he found refuge there, but as an outlaw flying from Saul the king of Israel, and even then the chiefs of the Philistines would not trust him (1 Samuel 29:3.). 1. Another Syrian state, Hamath, submitted to David without a fight. It was not merely the general fact, but he was led in the way in each particular part as well as in the main. Such grace was indeed a great thing to say and do, but not too much. Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and Davids sons were chief ministers. And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over both the Cherethites and Pelethites These, according to Josephus F11, were the king's bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards, ( 2 Samuel 23:22 2 Samuel 23:23 ) ; and which some think were of the nation of the Philistines, famous for archery, and slinging of stones; and so the Targum renders it. I am not at all speaking about the Israelites individually viewed. Generous as David was, he was wounded and resented the insult on those innocent of it. The military action picks up where the story left off at the end of chapter 5." Sauls line conflicted with David and the ark (chs. 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. But now, whether by wicked men with David, or by wicked men against him, or by the open enemies of the Lord, in all these various ways God had wrought and disposed of the different men who laid claim to the throne one after another; and lo! The idea that the name of a portion of the royal body-guard was derived from the Cretans is precluded, first of all, by the fact of its combination with (the Pelethites); for it is a totally groundless assumption that this name signifies the Philistines, and is a corruption of . 2 Samuel 8:15-18 constitute a summary of David's administration and conclude this section of Samuel (2 Samuel 5:17 to 2 Samuel 8:18) that records the major important features of David's reign (cf.