2 Samuel 8:9

Here is, 1. The court made to David by the king of Hamath, who, it seems was at this time at war with the king of Zobah. He hearing of David's success against his enemy, sent his own son ambassador to him (Sa2 8:9, Sa2 8:10), to congratulate him on his victory, to return him thanks for the favour he had done him in breaking the power of one he was in fear of, and to beg his friendship. Thus he not only secured but strengthened himself. And David lost nothing by taking this little prince under his protection, any more than the old Romans did by the like policy; for the wealth he had from the countries he conquered by way of spoil he had from this by way of present or gratuity: Vessels of silver and gold. Better get by composition than by compulsion. 2. The offering David made to God of the spoils of the nations and all the rich things that were brought him. He dedicated all to the Lord, Sa2 8:11, Sa2 8:12. This crowned all his victories, and made them far to out-shine Alexander's or Caesar's, that they sought their own glory, but he aimed at the glory of God. All the precious things he was master of were dedicated things, that is, they were designed for the building of the temple; and a good omen it was of kindness to the Gentiles in the fulness of time, and of the making of God's house a house of prayer for all people, that the temple was built of the spoils and presents of Gentile nations, in allusion to which we find the kings of the earth bringing their glory and honour into the new Jerusalem, Rev 21:24. Their gods of gold David burnt (Sa2 5:21), but their vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus in the conquest of a soul, by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated and the property of it altered. Even the merchandise and the hire must be holiness to the Lord (Isa 23:18), the gain consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth (Mic 4:13), and then it is truly our own and that most comfortably. 3. The reputation he got, in a particular manner, by his victory over the Syrians and their allies the Edomites, who acted in conjunction with them, as appears by comparing the title of the 60th Psalm, which was penned on this occasion, with Sa2 8:13. He got himself a name for all that conduct and courage which are the praise of a great and distinguished general. Something extraordinary, it is likely, there was in that action, which turned very much to his honour, yet he is careful to transfer the honour to God, as appears by the psalm he penned on this occasion, Sa2 8:12. It is through God that we do valiantly. 4. His success against the Edomites. They all became David's servants, Sa2 8:14. Now, and not till now, Isaac's blessing was accomplished, by which Jacob was made Esau's Lord (Gen 27:37-40) and the Edomites continued long tributary to the kings of Judah, as the Moabites were to the kings of Israel, till, in Joram's time, they revolted (Ch2 21:8) as Isaac had there foretold that Esau should, in process of time, break the yoke from off his neck. Thus David by his conquests, (1.) Secured peace to his son, that he might have time to build the temple. And, (2.) Procured wealth for his son, that he might have wherewith to build it. God employs his servants variously, some in one employment, others in another, some in the spiritual battles, others in the spiritual buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the glory of all. All David's victories were typical of the success of the gospel against the kingdom of Satan, in which the Son of David rode forth, conquering and to conquer, and he shall reign till he has brought down all opposing rule, principality, and power: and he has, as David had (Sa2 8:2), a line to kill and a line to save; for the same gospel is to some a savour of life unto life, to others a savour of death unto death.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2Sa 8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

Ver. 9. When Toi king of Hamath.] Called afterwards Antiochia, as the Chaldee Paraphrast hath it, of King Antiochus; as Methegammah or Gath, {2Sa 8:1} was called Diocaesarea.

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 8:9-11. King of Hamath — This city was also in Syria, and lay north of Judea. To salute him, and bless him — To congratulate him on his good success in the war with Hadadezer, and to wish him continued prosperity. Joram brought with him vessels, &c. — As a present to King David, whose friendship he sought by this embassy. Which David did dedicate to the Lord — These words seem to import, that he was so far from multiplying silver and gold for himself, (which Moses forbade, Deu 17:16,) that he put all his spoil, or the greatest part of it, into God’s treasury, for the building of the temple, which he designed, and his son was to accomplish, chap. 2Sa 7:13. A rare instance of his piety and gratitude to God, by whose aid he conquered; too seldom imitated by kings!

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

8:9 Hamath was northwest of Hadadezer’s Zobah.

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

Or, Antiochia.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Toi king of Hamath--CÅ“le-Syria; northwards, it extended to the city Hamath on the Orontes, which was the capital of the country. The Syrian prince, being delivered from the dread of a dangerous neighbor, sent his son with valuable presents to David to congratulate him on his victories, and solicit his alliance and protection.

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 9. Toi king of Hamath] Hamath is supposed to be the famous city of Emesa, situated on the Orontes, in Syria. This was contiguous to Hadadezer; and led him to wage war with Toi, that he might get possession of his territories. For a comparison of the 10th verse, see 1Ch 18:9.

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

(9) Toi king of Hamath.—The Vatican LXX. has the name, in accordance with Chron., Tau. Hamath, the capital of the kingdom of the same name, was situated on the Orontes. According to 1Ch_18:3. David’s victory was on the borders of this kingdom. It was tributary to Solomon (1Ki_4:24, 2Ch_8:3-4), subsequently became independent, and was recovered by Jeroboam II. (2Ki_14:28), and was finally captured by Assyria (2Ki_19:13). It is described as “the great” by Amos (6:2), and a considerable town still occupies its site.

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

9–12. Congratulatory embassy from Toi king of Hamath

9. Toi] The Sept. agrees with Chr. in reading his name Toü.

Hamath] A kingdom north of Zobah, with a capital of the same name situated on the Orontes. Hamath was one of the kingdoms which were tributary to Solomon, who built cities there (1Ki_4:24; 2Ch_8:4). After his death it regained its independence until Jeroboam II. recovered it (2Ki_14:28). A century later it is reckoned among the conquests of Assyria (2Ki_19:13). The epithet “great,” applied to the city by Amos (ch. 2Sa_6:2), attests its importance. A considerable town, retaining the name of Hamah, still occupies the site.

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.

When Toi king of Hamath,.... Which was another small kingdom in Syria, perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer, and this the first king of it, at least the first we hear of; his name is Tou in Ch1 18:9; where in the Targum he is called king of Antioch. Hamath lay to the north of the land of Canaan; See Gill on Num 34:8, it is said (t) to be three days' journey from Tripoli, and that it stands in the midway to Aleppo, on a very goodly plain, replenished with corn and cotton wool, but very much in ruins, and falls more and more to decay: at this day (says my author, who travelled in those parts in the beginning of the seventeenth century) there is scarce one half of the wall standing, which hath been very fair and strong. The king of this place

heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer; the news of which soon reached him, he being in the neighbourhood.

(t) Cartwright's Preacher's Travels, p. 6.

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

Hamath - This appears as an independent kingdom so late as the time of Senacherib Isa 37:13. But in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, both Hamath and Arpad appear to have been incorporated in the kingdom of Damascus Jer 49:23.

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

Emath, or Emesa. Its king, Thou, being alarmed at the ambition of his neighbour Adarezer, (Calmet) was pleased with the victories of a prince from whom he thought he had less to fear, as the lived at a greater distance. (Haydock)

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).

Hamath; another eminent city of Syria.

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

9. Hamath — A very ancient city of Syria situated on the Orontes river, about sixty miles southeast of Antioch. See on Num_13:21, and Jos_13:5. Its king was glad to have David for an ally.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Toi, called in Chronicles Tou, King of Hamath. This was a famous city upon the river Orontes, afterwards called by the Greeks Epiphania, and was situated upon the northernmost boundary of Palestine. Its interest in the present day lies in its having been the capital of the Hittites a race whose very existence was doubted a few years ago, in spite of the testimony of Holy Scripture; but whose marvellous empire has been lately proved to be historical by Egyptian records on the one side, and cuneiform inscriptions on the other. Unfortunately, inscriptions which they have themselves left behind have not yet found any one capable of deciphering them. In the twelfth century B.C. they were the paramount power from the Euphrates to the Lebanon. For many centuries they contended with the Pharaohs for the possession of Egypt, and while Rameses II had to make an inglorious peace with the Kheta, as they are called, and marry the king"s daughter, Rameses III won a great victory over them, and saved Egypt from thraldom. In the cuneiform inscriptions we find the record of a struggle between Assyria and the Hittites, lasting for four hundred years, during which Shalmaneser made thirty campaigns against them, but they were not finally conquered until B.C. 717, during the reign of Sargon. Fuller details will be found in Dr. Wright"s "Empire of the Hittites," published by Messrs. Nisbet.

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

After the defeat of the king of Zobah and his allies, Toi king of Hamath sought for David's friendship, sending his son to salute him, and conveying to him at the same time a considerable present of vessels of silver, gold, and brass. The name Toi is written Tou in the Chronicles, according to a different mode of interpretation; and the name of the son is given as Hadoram in the Chronicles, instead of Joram as in the text before us. The former is evidently the true reading, and Joram an error of the pen, as the Israelitish name Joram is not one that we should expect to find among Aramaeans; whilst Hadoram occurs in Ch1 1:21 in the midst of Arabic names, and it cannot be shown that the Hadoram or Adoram mentioned in Ch2 10:18 and Kg1 12:18 was a man of Israelitish descent. The primary object of the mission was to salute David ("to ask him of peace;" cf. Gen 43:27, etc.), and to congratulate him upon his victory ("to bless him because he had fought," etc.); for Toi had had wars with Hadadezer. "A man of wars" signifies a man who wages wars (cf. Ch1 28:3; Isa 42:13). According to Ch1 18:3, the territory of the king of Hamath bordered upon that of Hadadezer, and the latter had probably tried to make king Toi submit to him. The secret object of the salutation, however, was no doubt to secure the friendship of this new and powerful neighbour.

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.)

David’s Prestige Recognized

v. 9. When Toi, king of Hamath, a district of Syria on the Orontes River, heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

v. 10. then Toi sent Joram, his son (also known as Hadoram), unto King David, to salute him, with the usual greetings of peace, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi, he had been waging continual war with Toi with the purpose of subduing his land. David’s victory had freed him from a dangerous enemy, and therefore Toi wisely sought an alliance with the powerful victor. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass, gifts almost like those of a tributary king,

v. 11. which also, like the metal brought as booty from the Syrian war, King David did dedicate unto the Lord, placing them into the treasury of the Tabernacle, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued, including the Ammonites, the Amalekites, and the Edomites;

v. 12. of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

v. 13. And David gat him a name, he gained renown, his fame spread far and wide, when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, being eighteen thousand men, namely, of the Edomites. It seems that the children of Edom took the opportunity offered by David’s absence in the Syrian country to make an attack on Southern Canaan. They had advanced to the Southern end of the Dead Sea when the army of David, just back from the Syrian war, fell upon them with such disastrous results.

v. 14. And he put garrisons in Edom; through out all Edom put he garrisons, the character of the country demanding such a complete garrisoning, and all they of Edom became David’s servants, tributary vassals. And the lord preserved David whithersoever he went; it was due to God’s protection, to his blessing, that David was so successful in his campaign.

v. 15. And David reigned over all Israel, the reunited nation. And David, taking advantage of the peaceful conditions following the conquest of the various nations, executed judgment and justice unto all his people; he built up his influence among his own people by a wise and just rule, ordering and administering the affairs of the nation with great care.

v. 16. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the host, had supreme command of the army; and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was recorder, chronicler and preserver of the most important happenings in the kingdom;

v. 17. and Zadok, the son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazar, Aaron’s son, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, of the line of Eli, were the priests, that is, the high priests, one probably officiating at the Tabernacle on the heights of Gibeon, 1Ch 16:39, the other in the tent at Jerusalem; and Seraiah was the scribe, secretary of state;

v. 18. and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the king’s body-guard, who not only carried out the royal orders, but also executed the royal death sentences, being executioners and runners; and David’s sons were chief rulers, serving as confidential counselors. Like David, all believers labor and battle during their whole life for the honor of the Lord, serve Him with body and soul, and willingly sacrifice of the blessing which the Lord has given them.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Tou ... Hadoram

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Hamath

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

David had defeated

Here "David" represents his army. AT: "David's army had defeated" (See: Synecdoche)

translationWords

Hamath

send

bless

silver

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