Chapter commentary
2 Samuel Chapter 8
1
2Sa 8:1, 2.
English original
2Sa 8:1, 2.
DAVID SUBDUES THE PHILISTINES, AND MAKES THE MOABITES TRIBUTARY.
1. David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines--that is, Gath and her suburban towns
(1Ch 18:1).
That town had been "a bridle" by which the Philistines kept the people of Judah in check. David used it now as a barrier to repress that restless enemy.
2
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2. 又攻打摩押人，用绳量他们——这是东方君王所行的一桩惯例：他们吩咐那些战俘，尤其是那些因罪行凶残或因顽抗不屈而激起胜者怒火的人，伏在地上。然后从中定出一部分处死，其分法或由掣签决定，但最常用的是用绳子量度。我们的译本说他将三分之二处死，留下三分之一。《七十士译本》和《武加大译本》则说是一半。这战争的惯例，或许并非神的百姓所常行；但犹太学者认为，此次对这百姓之所以格外严厉，是因他们曾屠杀大卫的父母家属——大卫在逃亡期间曾将他们托付给摩押王。
English original
2. he smote Moab, and measured them with a line--This refers to a well-known practice of Eastern kings, to command their prisoners of war, particularly those who, notorious for the atrocity of their crimes or distinguished by the indomitable spirit of their resistance, had greatly incensed the victors, to lie down on the ground. Then a certain portion of them, which was determined by lot, but most commonly by a measuring-line, were put to death. Our version makes him put two-thirds to death, and spare one-third. The Septuagint and Vulgate make one-half. This war usage was not, perhaps, usually practised by the people of God; but Jewish writers assert that the cause of this particular severity against this people was their having massacred David's parents and family, whom he had, during his exile, committed to the king of Moab.
3
2Sa 8:3-14.
2Sa 8:3-14.
他击打哈大底谢和亚兰人。
3. 锁巴——
（代上18:3）。
这国的东界是幼发拉底河，从那河向西延伸，也许北至阿勒颇。它长久是叙利亚诸小国中的魁首，其王世袭「哈大底谢」或「哈大利谢」的称号（「哈大」即「帮助」之意）。
他去要夺回自己的边界，直到幼发拉底河——这是照神向以色列人所应许的，要将直到幼发拉底河之地都赐给他们
（创15:18； 民24:17）。
大卫在头一次战役中便彻底击败了哈大底谢。除大批步行的俘虏外，他还从对方掳获了极多的车马战利品。他只留下其中少许，其余的都砍断蹄筋。马匹之所以被如此残毁，是因为律法禁止希伯来人在战争和农耕上使用它们，留着也无用。况且他们的邻国多依赖骑兵，但因没有本地品种而须购买得来，所以对这些仇敌所能造成的最大损害，就是使他们的马在战争中失去作用。（另见
创46:6； 书11:6、9）。
大马色叙利亚的王前来援助哈大底谢，但大卫也击溃了这支援军，占领了他们的国土，在他们的设防城中驻军，并使他们进贡。
English original
2Sa 8:3-14.
HE SMITES HADADEZER AND THE SYRIANS.
3. Zobah--
(1Ch 18:3).
This kingdom was bounded on the east by the Euphrates, and it extended westward from that river, perhaps as far north as Aleppo. It was long the chief among the petty kingdoms of Syria, and its king bore the hereditary title of "Hadadezer" or "Hadarezer" ("Hadad," that is, "helped").
as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates--in accordance with the promises God made to Israel that He would give them all the country as far as the Euphrates
(Ge 15:18; Nu 24:17).
In the first campaign David signally defeated Hadadezer. Besides a great number of foot prisoners, he took from him an immense amount of booty in chariots and horses. Reserving only a small number of the latter, he hamstrung the rest. The horses were thus mutilated because they were forbidden to the Hebrews, both in war and agriculture. So it was of no use to keep them. Besides, their neighbors placed much dependence on cavalry, but having, for want of a native breed, to procure them by purchase, the greatest damage that could be done to such enemies was to render their horses unserviceable in war. (See also
Ge 46:6; Jos 11:6, 9).
A king of Damascene-Syria came to Hadadezer's succor; but David routed those auxiliary forces also, took possession of their country, put garrisons into their fortified towns, and made them tributary.
9
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9. 哈马王陀乌——即叙利亚谷地；向北延伸到奥龙特斯河上的哈马城，那城是该国的首都。这位亚兰王子既脱离了一位危险邻邦所带来的恐惧，便差他儿子带着贵重的礼物来见大卫，祝贺他的胜利，并请求与他结盟，求他保护。
English original
9. Toi king of Hamath--Cœle-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.
10
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10. 约兰——或作哈多兰
（代上18:10）。
English original
10. Joram--or Hadoram
(1Ch 18:10).
11
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11. 大卫王将这些分别为圣献给耶和华——东方君王向来习惯于积存大量的金银。这是大卫一贯所循之做法的头一个事例：在支付开支、给兵士适当的赏赐之后，将战时所掳的余剩之物留起来，为他一生的大业——在耶路撒冷建造国立圣殿——而积存。
English original
11. Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord--Eastern princes have always been accustomed to hoard up vast quantities of gold. This is the first instance of a practice uniformly followed by David of reserving, after defraying expenses and bestowing suitable rewards upon his soldiers, the remainder of the spoil taken in war, to accumulate for the grand project of his life--the erection of a national temple at Jerusalem.
13
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13. 大卫在盐谷击杀了亚兰人回来的时候，得了名声——《七十士译本》此处不作「亚兰人」，而作「以东人」，这才是正确的读法，从
撒下8:14
便可看出。这次由大卫军队所取得的胜利，当归功于亚比筛和约押的将才和勇武。
（代上18:12；
比较
诗60:1
题注。）这谷就是盐谷（即约旦河谷），毗邻盐山，位于死海西南端，将古时犹大和以东的领土隔开［罗宾逊］。
English original
13. David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians--Instead of Syrians, the Septuagint version reads "Edomites," which is the true reading, as is evident from
2Sa 8:14.
This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the skilful generalship and gallantry of Abishai and Joab.
(1Ch 18:12;
compare
Ps 60:1,
title.) The valley was the ravine of salt (the Ghor), adjoining the Salt Mountain, at the southwestern extremity of the Dead Sea, separating the ancient territories of Judah and Edom [ROBINSON].
15
2Sa 8:15-18.
2Sa 8:15-18.
他的国政。
15. 大卫向众民秉公行义——他虽卷入对外战争，国内却维持着优良的治理，当代最杰出的人物组成了他的内阁。
English original
2Sa 8:15-18.
HIS REIGN.
15. David executed judgment and justice unto all his people--Though involved in foreign wars, he maintained an excellent system of government at home, the most eminent men of the age composing his cabinet of ministers.
16
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16. 约押……作元帅——这是因一项特别的应许
（撒下5:8）。
史官——即史官或逐日的编年史官，这一职务在东方各国极受信任、极为重要。
English original
16. Joab . . . was over the host--by virtue of a special promise
(2Sa 5:8).
recorder--historiographer or daily annalist, an office of great trust and importance in Eastern countries.
17
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17. 撒督……和亚希米勒……作祭司——在挪伯祭司被屠
［撒上22:19］
之后，扫罗将祭司之职赐给了以利亚撒家族的撒督
（代上6:50）， 而大卫则承认了逃到他那里、属以他玛家族的亚希米勒。这两位大祭司各在所归附的君王之下供职。但大卫得了全以色列的国之后，他们都保留了自己的尊位；亚希米勒在耶路撒冷供职，撒督在基遍供职
（代上16:39）。
English original
17. Zadok . . . and Ahimelech . . . were the priests--On the massacre of the priests at Nob,
[1Sa 22:19],
Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of Eleazar
(1Ch 6:50),
while David acknowledged Ahimelech, of Ithamar's family, who fled to him. The two high priests exercised their office under the respective princes to whom they were attached. But, on David's obtaining the kingdom over all Israel, they both retained their dignity; Ahimelech officiating at Jerusalem, and Zadok at Gibeon
(1Ch 16:39).
18
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18. 基列提人——即非利士人
（番2:5）。
比利提人——源于比列
（代上12:3）。
他们是那些在大卫流亡于非利士人之间时随从他、后被立为他的卫士的勇士。
English original
18. Cherethites--that is, Philistines
(Zep 2:5).
Pelethites--from Pelet
(1Ch 12:3).
They were the valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the Philistines, were made his bodyguard.
2Sa 8:1, 2.
大卫制伏非利士人，使摩押人进贡。
1. 大卫从非利士人手中夺取了玛哈迦拉——即迦特及其附属城镇
（代上18:1）。
那城原是「辔头」，非利士人借此辖制犹大人。如今大卫则用以作为屏障，遏制那个躁动不安的仇敌。