2 Samuel 6:18

2Sa 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

Ver. 18. He blessed the people.] And feasted them besides, which was more than he did when he was confirmed by them in his kingdom, {2Sa 5:1-3} to show his greater joy.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Sa 6:18-19. He blessed the people — That is, he heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them; which he did both as a prophet and as their king, to whom by office it belonged by all means to seek his people’s welfare. He also pronounced them blessed in God’s name. So all the people departed, every one to his house — Or rather, to his tent, pitched in or near Jerusalem on this occasion.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

6:18 blessed the people: Although blessing was typically the express function of priests, kings also offered blessings at significant national occasions (Solomon, 1 Kgs 8:14, 55; 2 Chr 6:3; Hezekiah, 2 Chr 31:8).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

he blessed the people--in the double character of prophet and king (see Kg1 8:55-56). [See on Ch1 16:2.]

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 18. He blessed the people in the name of the Lord] David acted here as priest, for it was the general prerogative of the priests to bless the people, but it appears, by both David and Solomon, that it was the prerogative of the kings also.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) Peace offerings.—While the “burnt offerings” were dedicatory, the peace offerings were eucharistic, and were also intended here, as in 1Ki_8:62-65, to supply the wants of the people by a religious feast of communion with God.

He blessed the people.—As Solomon did at the dedication of the temple (1Ki_8:14; 1Ki_8:55), and in both cases this was eminently fitting; but such blessing is by no means to be mistaken for the peculiar priestly blessing for which the form was prescribed in Num_6:22-26.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. burnt offerings and peace offerings] The “burnt offerings” were dedicatory, the “peace offerings” eucharistic. The latter furnished the festival meal for the assembled people (Lev_7:15). Compare Solomon’s sacrifices at the dedication of the Temple (1Ki_8:62-65).

he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts] As Solomon did (1Ki_8:14; 1Ki_8:55). “The name of the Lord” signifies “Jehovah as He has revealed Himself to men,” and “to bless in the name of the Lord” signifies ‘to invoke from Jehovah such blessings as He covenants to give in accordance with His revelation of Himself.’ Cp. Psa_129:8.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he dealt among all the people,.... Gave a dole unto them, divided among them:

even among the whole multitude of Israel: and if there were so many as at first, there were thirty thousand of them, Sa2 6:1; and perhaps more, since it follows:

as well to the women as men; to both the one and the other; and the women, it is very probable, were not among those that went to fetch the ark, but assembled to attend the entrance of it into the city, and were present at the solemnities of its settlement:

to everyone a cake of bread; or a loaf of bread, of what quantity is not said, no doubt sufficient for anyone person, or more:

and a good piece of flesh: not only that was good in quality, but large in quantity, a very large piece of it; the Jews say (s) the sixth part of a bullock, they dividing it into six parts as we into four quarters; but it is not likely that such a quantity of flesh should be given to each person:

and a flagon of wine; but what such a vessel held cannot be said, though at least we may suppose it equal to a bottle of ours, or more; see Sol 2:5,

so all the people departed everyone to his house; to refresh themselves with the provisions David had given them.

(s) T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 36. 3.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

He blessed the people - So did Solomon 1Ki 8:14.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Blessed. Wishing all sorts of happiness. Only priests and kings perform this function publicly, 3 Kings viii. 55. Afterwards David went to his palace, to impart the same blessing to his family, and particularly to the women, who had not been present. This is a vestige of the sacerdotal power, which masters of families formerly enjoyed.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

He blessed the people, i.e. he heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them; which he did both as prophet and as their king, to whom by office it belongs, by all means, to seek his people’s welfare.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

David... blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. Blessing the people was an important priestly function, for which a special formula was provided. (Num_6:22-26) But this did not deprive the king, who was Jehovah"s anointed representative, of the right of also blessing them, and Solomon, at the consecration of the temple, followed his father"s example in a very solemn manner. (2Ch_6:3)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He blessed - That is, he heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them: which he did both as a prophet, and as their king, to whom by office it belongs, by all means, to seek his people's welfare.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

When the offering of sacrifice was over, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord, as Solomon did afterwards at the dedication of the temple (Kg1 8:55), and gave to all the (assembled) people, both men and women, to every one a slice of bread, a measure (of wine), and a cake for a festal meal, i.e., for the sacrificial meal, which was celebrated with the shelamim after the offering of the sacrifices, and after the king had concluded the liturgical festival with a benediction. לחם חלּת is a round cake of bread, baked for sacrificial meals, and synonymous with כּכּר־לחם (Ch1 16:3), as we may see from a comparison of Exo 29:23 with Lev 8:26 (see the commentary on Lev 8:2). But the meaning of the ἁπ. λεγ. אשׁפּר is uncertain, and has been much disputed. Most of the Rabbins understand it as signifying a piece of flesh or roast meat, deriving the word from אשׁ and פּר; but this is certainly false. There is more to be said in favour of the derivation proposed by L. de Dieu, viz., from the Ethiopic שׁפר, netiri, from which Gesenius and Roediger (Ges. Thes. p. 1470) have drawn their explanation of the word as signifying a measure of wine or other beverage. For אשׁישׁה, the meaning grape-cake or raisin-cake is established by Son of Sol 2:5 and Hos 3:1 (vid., Hengstenberg, Christol. on Hos 3:1). The people returned home after the festal meal.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts

To bless "in the name of Yahweh of hosts" means to bless with Yahweh's power and authority or as his representative. (See: Metonymy)

cake of raisins

a baked sweet bread made with dried grapes

translationWords

people group

name

Yahweh of hosts

bread

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.