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A. M. 2949. A. C. 1055; OR, ACcording to HALES, A. M. 4341. A. C. 1070. 2 SAM. i-xix.

By this time the palace, which Hiram king of Tyre | marched his army to secure his territories, which borderhad furnished David with men and materials to build, ed upon the Euphrates. The Syrians of Zobah, under was finished; and, as he was reflecting upon the mean- the command of d Hadadezer, came with a strong force, ness of God's habitation in comparison of his own, it and gave him battle: but he soon routed them, and, came into his mind to build a noble fabric for his religi- besides a great number of foot prisoners, took a thouous worship, which design he communicated to a Nathan. sand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen that attendNathan at first approved of it; but the night following, ed them; but, reserving to himself no more horses than he was commanded to forbid it, with this assurance, that were necessary for an hundred chariots, the rest he hamGod accepted of his sincere intentions; promised that stringed, to make them unserviceable for war. e The his son should succeed him, and build him a temple; and Syrians of Damascus, hearing of Hadadezer's ill success, that his posterity should reign 6 for many generations. came to his assistance. But David put them to the rout David was a man of war, and therefore, since God had likewise, and having slain two and twenty thousand of refused him the privilege of building him a temple, and them, he became master of their country; put garrisons had reserved that work for his son Solomon, whose name into their fortified cities, and made them tributary; and denotes peaceable, to execute, he thought himself bound (what was another victory in this expedition) in his return to subdue all his enemies on every side, that, when his from Syria, he engaged a great body of Edomites / in son came to undertake that great affair, he might meet the valley of salt, slew eighteen thousand of them, and with as little molestation as possible. brought them under the like subjection.

In the beginning of his reign, the Philistines had twice invaded him, and therefore he began with them. Their royal city of Gath, which was called Metheg-Ammah, or the bridge of Ammah, because it stood upon a hill of that name, and was a bridle to curb the tribe of Judah, and keep them in obedience, he took and made it a barrier against themselves. The Moabites he utterly subdued; and, having dismantled all their strong places, he slew the greater part of them, reserving such only as were requisite to till the ground. From hence he

a At what time this prophet began to appear in Israel, we are nowhere informed. This is the first time that the scripture makes mention of him. He was a man of great temper, prudence, and fine address, who knew to mitigate the rigour of his reproofs with a great deal of sweetness and wisdom, which qualified him so well for the conversation of kings, and other great persons. He was always equally esteemed and beloved by David, and, in his conduct towards him, maintained a just medium between an inflexible austerity and a servile flattery.-Calmet's Commentary.

The words in the text are, I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever;' which, in their primary sense, do relate to the terrestrial kingdom of David's family, and the long duration of it, enough to justify the expression for ever,' taken in a less strict signification. But if we take it in a more sublime and absolute sense, it can belong to none but that Son of David, to whom God the Father gave an eternal kingdom, properly so called, over all things both in heaven and earth, which though it was not so well known in the times when this prophecy was uttered, was, by the event afterwards, made plain and evident. Le Clerc's Commentary.

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Thus loaded with honour and spoils David returned from this campaign; but all the rich materials that he had compiled together, namely, gold, silver, and brass, he dedicated to the Lord, or laid them up for the future use of the temple. And, what was no small addition to his store, Toi, the king of Hamath, hearing of his victories, sent his own son to congratulate him thereupon, and, in a large present of vessels of gold, and vessels of silver, &c., to acknowledge his kindness in breaking the power of his most inveterate enemies.

All the while that David was thus engaged in foreign wars, he took care to have justice administered to his subjects at home, and a certain number of very great

d In the fragment of Nicolaus Damascenus, which Josephus has preserved, this prince is simply called Adad, which was the common name of the kings of Syria, who, according to the manner of other eastern princes, took their titles from the celestial bodies, and, in their language, Adad signifies the sun. The fragment, recorded by Josephus is to this effect. "A long time after, one Adad, a valiant man, and a native of the place, had the command of Damascus and Syria, Phoenicia only excepted. There happened to be a war between the same Adad and David the king of the Jews, and several encounters between them; but, in the end Adad was overcome at Euphrates, behaving himself with the resolution of a brave prince and a great captain.” The same author, speaking further of his posterity, says, That the government was handed down from father to son to the tenth generation, and that the successor still received the father's name with the empire, as the Ptolemies did among the Egyptians.”— Jewish Antiquities, b. 7. c. 6.

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e Aram Damasek, which we translate Syria of Damascus, was that part of Syria which lay between Libanus and Antilibanus, whose chief city was Damascus, situate in a valley, called by several names in Scripture, and watered by five rivers, the two principal of which, namely, Abana and Pharphar, (mentioned in

c There is no small obscurity in the words of the text, which are these: He smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even in two lines measured he to put to death, and with one line to keep alive.' Which words seem to allude to a custom among the kings of the east, when they were thoroughly incensed against any nation, namely,2 Kings v. 12.) descended from mount Hermon; whereof the to make the captives all come together in one place, and prostrate themselves upon the ground; that, being divided into two parts, as it were with a line, their conqueror might appoint which part he pleased either for death or life, which was sometimes determined by casting of lots. Some are of opinion, that David made three lots or parts of these Moabites, two of which he ordered to be slain, and one part only to be kept alive. The reason of this severity against this miserable people, the rabbins assure us, was, because they had slain his parents and brethren, whom he had committed to the custody of the king of Moab during his exile. But of the reality of this motive there is no manner of appearance; and since this execution which David inflicted may relate either to the whole nation, or the army only, to clear David from the imputation of too much cruelty we should rather Conceive it of the third, or half part at most, of the army.-Le Clerc's and Calmet': Commentaries.

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latter washed the walls of Damascus, and the other ran through it, and divided the city into two parts.-Patrick's Commentary. f The valley of salt here is thought by many to be the place adjoining to the Dead sea. But, as the country of the Edomites, whom David subdued in his return from his expedition into Syria, must necessarily lie towards the east of Canaan, we must look for some other valley of salt in the confines of that country. Now, about a league southward from the city of Palmyra, or Tadmor, in the road to Edom, we find a large plain abounding with salt pits, whence a great part of Syria is furnished with that com.modity; and therefore it is very probable, that the battle between David's generals and the Edomites was fought in this plain; which is about two days' journey from Bozrah, the capital city of the eastern Edom, whence the people might march out to meet David's forces, and oppose them in their return home.— Culmet's Commentary.

A. M. 2019. A. C. 1055; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4311. A. C. 1070. 2 SAM. i-xix.

Nahash was dead, sent his compliments of condolence to his son and successor Hanun; but the great men that were about the young king, made him believe, that the sole intent of David's sending this embassy was to spy out the weakness of the city, and in what place it might most advantageously be assaulted: so that the too credulous prince ordered the ambassadors to be treated in the most ignominious manner, and with their beards half-shaved, and their clothes cut short, even to the middle of their buttocks, to be sent about their business.

men employed in the highest offices of trust. Joab, as we said before, was captain-general; Jehoshaphat, a chancellor of the kingdom; Abiathar, was high priest; Seraiah, secretary of state; Benaiah, captain of his guard; and his own sons, the prime ministers of his household, such as lord chamberlain, lord treasurer, lord steward, as we call them; and to these he added one more, Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, to whom he restored all his grandfather Saul's estate; and though he was a cripple, and lame of both his feet, yet, for the love he had for his father, he entertained him with great The ambassadors being ashamed to return home, were kindness, and ordered him to sit with his own sons at the ordered to continue at Jericho, until their beards grew royal table every day. again; but as for the indignity put upon them, David David, not long after this, hearing that his a old friend gave them assurance that he would resent it in a proper

a The word in our translation is recorder, which in the marginal note, is remembrancer, or writer of chronicles; an employment of no mean estimation in the eastern world, where it was customary with kings to keep daily registers of all the transactions of their reigns; and a trust, which, however discharged to purpose, must be let into the true springs and secrets of action, and consequently must be received into the inmost confidence. For whether the office of a lord chancellor was consistent with the constitution of the Jewish state, a modern author seems to doubt.-History of the Life of King David, vol. 2.

manner. Accordingly he sent an army under the command of Joab, to call these unhospitable Ammonites to an account. The Ammonites were apprised of his design, and therefore provided against the worst, by procuring 33,000 mercenaries of the Syrians, who lay encamped at some distance in the fields, whilst their own forces covered the city.

Upon this situation of the enemy, Joab divided his army into two bodies, one of which he gave to his broThese guards are called in the text the Cherethites and the ther Abishai, to keep the Ammonites in play, while himPelethites; but who they were, is variously conjectured. That self with the other, which consisted of his choice men, they were soldiers, is evident, from their being mentioned as attacked the Syrians. Their agreement was, to relieve present at the proclamation of king Solomon, against Adonijah, each other, in case there was occasion: but Joab, at the which could not conveniently have been done without some armed force, to protect the persons who proclaimed him; and that they first onset, charged the Syrians so home, that as they were were not common soldiers, but the constant guards of David's but mercenaries, and thought not the cause their own, person, is manifest from the title of arouλanss, keepers of they soon gave way, which made the Ammonites, who the body, which Josephus gives them. Some are of opinion, that depended much upon their courage, endeavour to secure they were men of a gigantic stature; but we find no ground for that, though they were doubtless proper and robust men, as we themselves by retreating into their city; for the season speak, and of known fidelity to their prince, (2 Sam. xv. 18. and of the year being too far advanced, made it impracxx. 7.) Others again, think that they were Philistines; but it is ticable for Joab to besiege it. hardly supposable, that David would have any of these hated uncircumcised people to be his body guard, neither can we be

lieve, that the Israelitish soldiers would have taken it patiently, to see foreigners of that nation put in such places of honour and trust. Cherethite, however, is certainly but another name for Philistine, as appears from Zephaniah ii. 5.; and therefore the question is, how came any of David's subjects to be called after that name? And the answer to this is obvious,-They were so called, because they went at first with him into Philistia, and continued there with him, all the time that he was under the protection of Achish. These were the persons who accompanied him from the beginning, in his utmost distress, and clave to him in all calamities; and therefore it is no wonder, if men of such approved fidelity were made choice of for his body guards; nor is it any uncommon thing in history, for legions, or bands of soldiers, to take their names, not from the place of their nativity, but their residence, and very frequently from the name of their captain or commander. Since therefore, in 1 Chron. xii. 3. we find mention made of one Pelet, the son of Azmaveth, who resorted to David while he was at Ziklag, but still under the protection of Achish, it is but supposing him to be their captain, and then we come to the reason why they were called Pelethites, unless we suppose them rather denominated from Peleth son of Jonathan, who was of the king's own tribe.—Patrick's Commentary; Poole's Annot.; and The History of the Life of King David.

e Mephibosheth was very young when his father Jonathan was killed at the battle of Gilboa, which put his nurse into so great a consternation, that she let the child fall, as she was making haste to escape with him, and from that time he was lame of both feet for ever after.-2 Sam. iv, 4.

d What the particular benefits which David had received from Nahash were, we are no where told in Scripture; but some of the Jews say, that he fled to him, when he durst stay no longer with Achish king of the Philistines, and that he received him very kindly; others, that he entertained his relations when the king of Moab, to whom he had committed them, slew some of them: but the most likely opinion is, that as he was a bitter enemy to Saul, who had given him a great overthrow, he, for that very

Hadadezer had assisted the Ammonites, with some forces the last campaign; and being apprehensive that David would fall foul upon him, he resolved to be bereason, became a friend to David, when he perceived how Saul persecuted him, and thereupon might send him relief and assist ance, and perhaps offer him protection in his kingdom.-Patrick's Commentary.

e This was one of the greatest indignities that the malice of man could invent, in those countries where all people thought their hair so great an ornament, that some would rather have submitted to die than part with it. What a foul disgrace and heavy punishment this was accounted in ancient times, we may learn from Nicolaus Damascenus, as mentioned by Stohrus, (tit. 42.) who says, that among the Indians, the king commanded the greatest offenders to be shaven, as the heaviest punishment that he could inflict upon them; and to the like purpose Plutarch │(in Agesil.) tells us, that whenever a soldier, among the Lacedemo nians, was convicted of cowardice, he was obliged to go with one part of his upper lip shaved, and the other not. Nay, even at this day, no greater indignity can be offered to a man of Persia, than to cause his beard to be shaved; and therefore Tavernier, in his travels, relates the story, that when the sophi caused an ambassador of Aureng-zebe's to be used in this manner, telling him that he was not worthy to wear a beard, the emperor, even in the manner that David here did, most highly resented the afiront that was done to him in the person of his ambassador. And as shaving David's ambassadors, was deservedly accounted a grievous affront, so the cutting off half the beard, which made them look still more ridiculous, was a great addition to it, where beards were held in great veneration; and where long habits down to the heels were worn, especially by persons of distinction, without any breeches or drawers, the cutting their garments, even to the middle, thereby to expose their nakedness, was such a brutal and shameless insult, as would badly become a man of David's martial spirit, and just sentiments of honour, to have tamely passed by.-Patrick's and Culmet's Commentaries.

A. M. 2949. A. C. 1055; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4341. A. C. 1070. 2 SAM, i—xix.

forehand with him. To this purpose levying a vast army, | safety in devising some means to conceal it. Hereupon not only in Syria, but in Mesopotamia likewise, he sent it, under the command of Shobach his general, over the river Euphrates, as far as Helam, a town in the borders of the half tribe of Manasseh. This David had soon intelligence of, and therefore uniting all his forces, he marched with the utmost expedition, and coming upon the enemy sooner than was expected, slew seven thousaud men, who attended seven hundred chariots; which so disheartened the rest, that he soon despatched forty thousand more, together with their general, who fell in the action, and died upon the spot. Upon this success, several petty kings who had assisted Hadadezer in this expedition, fearing some worse consequence, made a peace with David, and became tributary to him; and even Hadadezer himself, being thus forsaken by his confederates, gave him assurance that he would no longer espouse the cause of the Ammonites, but leave them to shift for themselves. Whereupon David sent Joab against them with a powerful army, who laid the country waste, destroyed all that came in his way, and to make short of the matter, laid siege to their royal city of

he sent a despatch to Joab for Uriah to come to him, as if he had something particular to inquire of him; but his whole intent was to give him an opportunity of lying with his wife, that so the child, when it was born, might be reputed his. Uriah came; and after the king had asked him some few questions concerning the condition of the army, and the advances of the siege, he ordered him to go home, and refresh himself after his journey, and sent a handsome collation after him for his entertainment. But so it was, that instead of going near his wife, he chose to sleep in the guard room.

Rabbah.

While Joab was carrying on the siege of Rabbah, David continued in Jerusalem, and walking one evening on the top of his palace to take the fresh air, he chanced toespy a beauteous woman bathing herself in her garden. The unguarded king, as soon as he saw her, was smitten; and inquiring who she was, was informed that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Ammiel, and wife of Uriah the Hittite, an officer in his army, who was then with Joab at the siege of Rabbah. David sent for her, lay with her, and dismissed her. But, in a short time, finding herself with child, she apprized him of it, and desired him withal to consult her honour and

a The manner of building, in all eastern countries, was to have their houses flat-roofed, with a terrace and parapet wall, for the convenience of walking in the cool air; and as David's palace was built on one of the highest places of Mount Sion, he might easily look down upon the lower parts of the town, and take a view of all the gardens that were within due distance.-Le Clerc's Commentary.

David was informed of this the next morning; and was therefore resolved to make use of another expedient. He invited him to sup at his own table, and prevailed with him to drink to such a pitch, that he did not doubt but that the heat of the liquor would have inflamed his appetite, and made him go home to his wife; but still he lay in the guard room, and in excuse to the king, said, that he thought it was his duty so to do, while the rest of the soldiers were encamped. So that finding himself still disappointed, the king ordered him at last back to the army, and e sent him with letters to Joab, wherein he commanded him to manage matters so, that Uriah might be killed by the Ammonites, which accordingly came to pass: for in an assault upon the town, Uriah,

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d The words in the text are, go down to thy house, and wash thy feet,' (2 Sam. xi. 8.) for in these countries, where it was not the custom to wear shoes, but sandals only, and, in some places to go barefoot, washing the feet was a great refreshment after a journey, and a common compliment that the master of the house usually made to any stranger at his first entrance. But this custom of washing the feet, was not only after a journey, to cleanse them from dirt and dust, but very much used likewise, before people sat down to meat; and therefore David's meaning in the expression is, that Uriah should go down and feast with his wife, for which reason he sent a collation to his house, and after so long an absence, indulge himself in her company. For David's intention hitherto was, neither to murder Uriah, nor marry his wife, but only to screen her honour and his own crime. -Calmet's Commentary.

e It may be thought perhaps, that Uriah suspected something of his wife's adultery, and therefore, resolving that it should be discovered, would not be persuaded to go down to his house. Thus Jupiter is said to have seen Proserpina washing her- But if he did, he certainly acted the part of a trusty servant, self, and exposing her whole body to his view, which inflamed when he would not open the king's letter to know what was in his lust after her. But whether it was in her garden, or court-it, though, upon supposition that he suspected his criminal yard, overlooked by the palace, or in some apartment in her commerce with his wife, he had reason to expect no good. This house, whose windows opened that way, that this woman bathed puts one naturally in mind of the story of Bellerophon's carrying herself, it is not so certain. Tradition points out the place of a letters from Proetus to his father-in-law Jobates, king of Lycia, fountain still called after her name, which would make it prob- with an order to kill him; from whom it came into a proverb, able that she bathed in a garden, did not Josephus expressly de- to carry Bellerophon's letter or a death warrant against one's clare that it was in her own house, as indeed the natural mo- self, according to that passage in Plautus: "Aha! thy son hath desty and decency of her sex, as well as the circumstance of the now made me a Bellerophon, I myself have brought the warrant time, for then it was evening, make his account more probable; for my bondage." -Bacchid. For the fable of Uriah and Belleronor can it be doubted, but that the declining rays of the sun, phon are so very much alike, that the fable of the latter seems ta shooting into the inmost recesses of her chamber, and throwing he founded upon the story of the former. Bellerophon, who, as a great lustre around her, might discover her very clearly to some scholiasts think, should be read Boulephoron, a council very distant eyes, without the least suspicion on her part, of any carrier, was a stranger at the court of Protus, as Uriah being a possibility of being seen, and consequently with all the reserve of Hittite, was at the court of David. He declined the embraces modesty proper to her sex.-The History of the Life of King of Sthenoba, as Uriah did the bed of Bathsheba; and was for David, vol. 3. that reason, sent to Jobates, general of Prœtus's army, with e Uriah, though an Hittite by nation, was proselyted to the letters, which contained a direction to put him to death, as Uriah Jewish religion, and so marrying with a Jewish woman, lived was sent to Joab, David's general. By Jobates he was sent, in Jerusalem; or as he was one of the king's lifeguard, which with a small guard, upon an attack, in which it was intended, for reasons above mentioned, seem to have been all natives, and he should be slain, as Uriah was by Joab to that in which he of the tribe of Judah, this additional name might perhaps be fell. The main of the history is the same in both; the similigiven him, for some gallant action achieved against the Hittites, tude of Jobates and Joab's name is very remarkable; and the in the same manner as a Roman, in after ages, came to be called variation in the whole only lies in some such ornamental emAfricanus, Germanicus, Parthicus, &c., upon account of the vic-bellishments, as might well be expected in a poetical compositories obtained over the Africans, Germans, or Parthians.- tion.-Calmet's Commentary, and The History of the Life of Calmet's Commentary, King David.

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