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英文原文
David having sought first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, settling the ark as soon as he was himself well settled, we are here told how all other things were added to him. Here is an account, I. Of his conquests. He triumphed, 1. Over the Philistines, 2Sa 8:1. 2. Over the Moabites, 2Sa 8:2. 3. Over the king of Zobah, 2Sa 8:3,4. 4. Over the Syrians, 2Sa 8:5-8,13. 5. Over the Edomites, 2Sa 8:14. II. Of the presents that were brought him and the wealth he got from the nations he subdued, which he dedicated to God, 2Sa 8:9-12. III. Of his court, the administration of his government (2Sa 8:15), and his chief officers, 2Sa 8:16-18. This gives us a general idea of the prosperity of David's reign.
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David's Conquests (1042 BC)
大衛的征伐（主前1042年）
¹ 此後，大衛攻打非利士人，把他們治服，從他們手下奪了母城的嚼環（原文作京城的權柄）。
² 又攻打摩押人，使他們躺臥在地上，用繩量他們：量二繩的殺了，量一繩的留存活命。摩押人就歸服大衛，給他進貢。
³ 瑣巴王利合的兒子哈大底謝往大河去，要恢復他的國權，大衛就攻打他。
⁴ 擒拿了他的馬兵一千七百，步兵二萬；將拉戰車的馬砍斷蹄筋，但留下一百輛車的馬。
⁵ 大馬士革的亞蘭人來幫助瑣巴王哈大底謝，大衛就殺了亞蘭人二萬二千。
⁶ 於是大衛在大馬士革的亞蘭地設立防營，亞蘭人就歸服他，給他進貢。大衛無論往哪裏去，耶和華都使他得勝。
⁷ 他奪了哈大底謝臣僕所拿的金盾牌，帶到耶路撒冷。
⁸ 又從屬哈大底謝的比他、比羅他兩城中，奪了許多的銅。
神已使大衛得享安息，脫離一切反對他、與他作對的仇敵；他既善用了那安息，如今便受命向他們開戰，採取攻勢，為以色列的爭端報仇，並收復他們當得的權利；因為他們至今仍未完全得著神應許所賜的那地。
I. 他徹底制伏了非利士人（2Sa 8:1）。非利士人曾趁他以為軟弱之時攻擊他（2Sa 5:17），結果吃了大虧；但當他發現自己強盛之時，便主動出擊，成為他們國土的主人。非利士人長久以來苦害欺壓以色列人。掃羅未能從他們手中奪得一寸土地；但大衛完成了以色列從他們手中的拯救——這工作參孫很久以前已經開始（Jdg 13:5）。母城的嚼環（原文Metheg-ammah）就是迦特（非利士人的首要王城）及其附屬城鎮；非利士人曾在亞瑪山上（2Sa 2:24）常駐軍隊——這是一副嚼環（原文如此），是加在以色列人身上的轡頭；大衛從他們手中奪取了這地，反過來用它作為轄制他們的嚼環。如此，當壯士被解除武裝之時，他所信靠的兵器就被奪去，反被用來對付他自己（Lu 11:22）。聖徒與黑暗權勢長久屢次爭戰之後——如以色列人之於非利士人一般——大衛的子孫（基督）必將他們全都踐踏在腳下，使聖徒不僅得勝，而且得勝有餘。
II. 他擊打摩押人，使他們成為以色列的進貢國（2Sa 8:2）。他將那國分為三部分，兩部分予以毀滅——拆毀堅固城，盡行屠殺；第三部分則予保留，用以耕種田地、作以色列人的僕人。萊特富博士說：「他使他們臥在地上，用繩子量他們，定誰當死、誰當活」；這被稱為量算疏割谷（Ps 60:6）。猶太人說他如此嚴厲對待摩押人，是因為他們殺害了他的父母和弟兄——他在逃亡期間曾將他們託付給摩押王保護（1Sa 22:3,4）。他這樣行是出於公義，因為他們一直是神以色列民的危險仇敵；也是出於策略，因為若任憑他們保持實力，他們仍會如是。但請注意：雖然必須剪除三分之二，但那存留活命的一條線，雖然只有一條，卻被吩咐要量得滿。務必使它足夠長；讓憐憫的線拉到極處，為著保全性命。赦免的法令當這樣解釋，以擴大恩惠。如此巴蘭的預言便應驗了：有星要出於雅各，有杖要興於以色列，必打破摩押的四角（Nu 24:17），直到那致命的繩線所量到的極處。摩押人一直向以色列進貢，直到亞哈死後（2Ki 3:4,5）。此後他們背叛，再也未被降服。
III. 他擊打亞蘭人。他們有兩個不同的王國，正如我們在詩篇第六十篇的標題中所見：兩河的亞蘭——其首都是大馬士革（以河流著名，2Ki 5:12），以及瑣巴的亞蘭，與之相連，但延伸到幼發拉底河。這是北方的兩個王冠。1. 大衛先從瑣巴的亞蘭人下手（2Sa 8:3,4）。他前去在幼發拉底河邊確立疆界（因神賜給亞伯拉罕和他後裔的地業延伸至此，Ge 15:18），瑣巴王出來反對他——因他本人佔據了那些屬於以色列的地土；但大衛擊潰了他的軍隊，擄獲了他的戰車和馬兵。此處說馬兵有七百，但1Ch 18:4說有七千。若他們將馬兵每十人編為一隊（這是可能的），那麼隊長和隊伍共有七百，但馬兵共七千。大衛砍斷馬的蹄筋——砍斷腿筋使它們瘸腿，不能再用，至少不能用於戰爭——因為神曾吩咐他們不可加添馬匹（De 17:16）。大衛在一千輛戰車中只保留了一百輛自用：因為他將力量不放在戰車和馬匹上，而放在永生神身上（Ps 20:7），並且根據自己的觀察寫下：靠馬得救是枉然的（Ps 33:16,17）。2. 大馬士革的亞蘭人前來支援瑣巴王，也與他一同傾覆了。在戰場上被殺的有二萬二千人（2Sa 8:5）。因此大衛輕易地成為那地的主人，並在其中設立駐軍（2Sa 8:6）。神教會的仇敵以為藉著彼此結盟可以保全自己，最終卻證明是藉此毀滅了自己。任憑你們結盟，終必破壞（Isa 8:9）。
IV. 在這一切戰爭中：1. 大衛蒙保護：耶和華無論他往哪裏去都使他得勝。看來他親自出征，為神和以色列的緣故在戰場高處冒著性命危險；但神在爭戰之日遮蔽他的頭——這事他在詩篇中常常提到，以歸榮耀給神。2. 他富足起來。他奪了哈大底謝的臣僕所看管的金盾牌（2Sa 8:7），又從亞蘭的幾座城中得了許多銅（2Sa 8:8）；這些他不僅憑戰爭的權利——最長的劍所賜予的不容置疑的權利（「奪取了，就歸你」）而得著，更是憑天上的委任和這些地土自古以來對亞伯拉罕後裔的封賜而得著。
英文原文
David's Conquests (1042 BC)
¹ And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
² And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
³ David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
⁴ And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.
⁵ And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
⁶ Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
⁷ And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
⁸ And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him and made head against him; and he having made a good use of that rest, has now commission given him to make war upon them, and to act offensively for the avenging of Israel's quarrels and the recovery of their rights; for as yet they were not in full possession of that country to which by the promise of God they were entitled.
I. He quite subdued the Philistines, 2Sa 8:1. They had attacked him when they thought him weak (2Sa 5:17), and went by the worst then; but, when he found himself strong, he attacked them, and made himself master of their country. They had long been vexatious and oppressive to Israel. Saul got no ground against them; but David completed Israel's deliverance out of their hands, which Samson had begun long before, Jdg 13:5. Metheg-ammah was Gath (the chief and royal city of the Philistines) and the towns belonging to it, among which there was a constant garrison kept by the Philistines on the hill Ammah (2Sa 2:24), which was Metheg, a bridle (so it signifies) or curb upon the people of Israel; this David took out of their hand and used it as a curb upon them. Thus, when the strong man is disarmed, the armour wherein he trusted is taken from him, and used against him, Lu 11:22. And after the long and frequent struggles which the saints have had with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son of David shall tread them all under their feet and make the saints more than conquerors.
II. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel, 2Sa 8:2. He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed, casting down the strong-holds, and putting all to the sword; the third part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Dr. Lightfoot says, "He laid them on the ground and measured them with a cord, who should be slain and who should live;" and this is called meting out the valley of Succoth, Ps 60:6. The Jews say he used this severity with the Moabites because they had slain his parents and brethren, whom he put under the protection of the king of Moab during his exile, 1Sa 22:3,4. He did it in justice, because they had been dangerous enemies to the Israel of God; and in policy, because, if left in their strength, they still would have been so. But observe, Though it was necessary that two-thirds should be cut off, yet the line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Be sure to give that length enough; let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost in favorem vitæ—so as to favour life. Acts of indemnity must be construed so as to enlarge the favour. Now Balaam's prophecy was fulfilled, A sceptre shall arise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, to the utmost of which the fatal line extended, Nu 24:17. The Moabites continued tributaries to Israel till after the death of Ahab, 2Ki 3:4,5. Then they rebelled and were never reduced.
III. He smote the Syrians or Aramites. Of them there were two distinct kingdoms, as we find them spoken of in the title of the Ps 60:1-12: Aram Naharaim,—Syria of the rivers, whose head city was Damascus (famed for its rivers, 2Ki 5:12), and Aram Zobah, which joined to it, but extended to Euphrates. These were the two northern crowns. 1. David began with the Syrians of Zobah, 2Sa 8:3,4. As he went to settle his border at the river Euphrates (for so far the land conveyed by the divine grant to Abraham and his seed did extend, Ge 15:18), the king of Zobah opposed him, being himself possessed of those countries which belonged to Israel; but David routed his forces, and took his chariots and horsemen. The horsemen are here said to be 700, but 1Ch 18:4 they are said to be 7000. If they divided their horse by ten in a company, as it is probable they did, the captains and companies were 700, but the horsemen were 7000. David houghed the horses, cut the sinews of their hams, and so lamed them, and made them unserviceable, at least in war, God having forbidden them to multiply horses, De 17:16. David reserved only 100 chariots out of 1000 for his own use: for he placed his strength not in chariots nor horses, but in the living God (Ps 20:7), and wrote it from his own observation that a horse is a vain thing for safety, Ps 33:16,17. 2. The Syrians of Damascus coming in to the relief of the king of Zobah fell with him. 22,000 were slain in the field, 2Sa 8:5. So that it was easy for David to make himself master of the country, and garrison it for himself, 2Sa 8:6. The enemies of God's church, that think to secure themselves, will prove, in the end, to ruin themselves, by their confederacies with each other. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces, Isa 8:9.
IV. In all these wars, 1. David was protected: The Lord preserved him whithersoever he went. 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. 2. He was enriched. He took the shields of gold which the servants of Hadadezer had in their custody (2Sa 8:7) and much brass from several cities of Syria (2Sa 8:8), which he was entitled to, not only jure belli—by the uncontrollable right of the longest sword ("Get it, and take it"); but by commission from heaven, and the ancient entail of these countries on the seed of Abraham.
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David Conquers Edom (1042 BC)
大衛征服以東（主前1042年）
⁹ 哈馬王陀以聽見大衛殺敗了哈大底謝的全軍，
¹⁰ 就差他兒子約蘭去見大衛王，請他的安，為他祝福。因為他與哈大底謝爭戰，擊敗了他。原來哈大底謝常常與陀以爭戰。約蘭帶了金銀銅的器皿來，
¹¹ 大衛王都將這些分別為聖獻給耶和華，連同他所征服的各國所得的金銀，都獻給耶和華，
¹² 就是從亞蘭、摩押、亞捫人、非利士人、亞瑪力人所得的，以及瑣巴王利合的兒子哈大底謝的掠物。
¹³ 大衛在鹽谷擊殺了亞蘭人一萬八千人回來，就得了大名。
¹⁴ 又在以東全地設立防營。他在以東全地設立防營，以東人就都作大衛的僕人。大衛無論往哪裏去，耶和華都使他得勝。
此處記述：1. 哈馬王向大衛表示的敬意——看來此時他正與瑣巴王交戰。他聽見大衛戰勝了他的仇敵，便差遣自己的兒子作大使去見他（2Sa 8:9,10），祝賀他的勝利，感謝他擊破了他所懼怕之人的勢力，又懇求他的友誼。如此他不僅保全了自己，更鞏固了自己。大衛將這位小王置於自己的保護之下，並未因此吃虧——正如古羅馬人採取同樣策略也不吃虧一般；因為他從所征服各國得來的財富是以掠物形式得到的，而從這裏得到的卻是以禮物或賞賜的形式：金銀的器皿。以協商得到的，勝過以強制得到的。2. 大衛將列國的掠物和一切帶給他的珍寶獻給神。他將一切分別為聖獻給耶和華（2Sa 8:11,12）。這使他的勝利倍添光彩，遠勝亞歷山大或凱撒的成就——他們尋求自己的榮耀，而大衛的目標卻是神的榮耀。他手中一切珍貴之物都是分別為聖之物——就是說，都是為建造聖殿而預備的。這也是對外邦人在日期滿足時蒙恩的吉兆，預表神的殿必成為萬民禱告的殿——聖殿既是用外邦列國的掠物和禮物建造的，正好預表了這一點。我們從啟示錄中讀到，地上的君王必將自己的榮耀尊貴歸與新耶路撒冷（Re 21:24）。外邦人的金神像，大衛焚燒了（2Sa 5:21）；但他們的金器皿，他卻分別為聖。如此，在藉著大衛子孫的恩典征服一個靈魂之時，凡與神對立的必須被毀滅——每一個私慾都要被治死、釘在十字架上；但能榮耀祂的必須被分別為聖，其用途也要改變。連商業的利潤和收益也必歸耶和華為聖（Isa 23:18），所得的必歸與全地之主耶和華為聖（Mic 4:13）——如此它才真正是我們自己的，而且享受得最為安心。3. 他因戰勝亞蘭人以及與他們結盟的以東人而贏得的聲譽——以東人是與亞蘭人一同行動的，這可從對照詩篇第六十篇的標題（該篇正是為此場合而寫的）與2Sa 8:13看出來。他得了大名——因那一切謀略和勇氣而得的名聲，正是一個偉大而傑出的統帥所當得的讚譽。那次行動中很可能有些非凡之處，使他的榮譽大增，然而他卻小心地將榮耀歸給神——正如他為此場合所寫的詩篇所表明的那樣（2Sa 8:12）。我們之所以能踐踏那起來攻擊我們的人，是藉著神。4. 他對以東人的成功。他們都作了大衛的僕人（2Sa 8:14）。以撒對雅各的祝福至此才應驗——雅各被立為以掃的主（Ge 27:37-40）；以東人長久向猶大王進貢，正如摩押人向以色列王進貢一般，直到約蘭年間他們才背叛（2Ch 21:8），正如以撒在那裏所預言的——以掃日後必從頸項上掙脫他的軛。如此，大衛藉著他的征服：(1.) 為他的兒子確保了和平，使他可以有時間建造聖殿。(2.) 為他的兒子預備了財富，使他可以有資財建造聖殿。神以不同的方式使用祂的僕人——有的在這項事工上，有的在那項事工上；有的從事屬靈的爭戰，有的從事屬靈的建造；一個為另一個預備工作，好使神在一切中得著榮耀。大衛一切的勝利都預表了福音對抗撒但國度的成功——大衛的子孫在其中乘馬而行，得勝又得勝，祂必作王，直到一切反對的規則、權柄、勢力都被除滅。祂也有（如大衛在2Sa 8:2所作的那樣）一條線用以殺滅，一條線用以保全；因為同一福音對一些人是有生氣致生的香氣，對另一些人卻是有死氣致死的香氣。
英文原文
David Conquers Edom (1042 BC)
⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
¹⁰ Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
¹¹ Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
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.
¹³ And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
¹⁴ And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
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 (2Sa 8:9,10), 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, 2Sa 8:11,12. 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, Re 21:24. Their gods of gold David burnt (2Sa 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 2Sa 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, 2Sa 8:12. It is through God that we do valiantly. 4. His success against the Edomites. They all became David's servants, 2Sa 8:14. Now, and not till now, Isaac's blessing was accomplished, by which Jacob was made Esau's Lord (Ge 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 (2Ch 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 (2Sa 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.
15-18
David's Administration of the Government of Israel (1042 BC)
大衛治理以色列的行政（主前1042年）
¹⁵ 大衛作以色列眾人的王。大衛向眾民秉公行義。
¹⁶ 洗魯雅的兒子約押作元帥；亞希律的兒子約沙法作史官；
¹⁷ 亞希突的兒子撒督和亞比亞他的兒子亞希米勒作祭司；西萊雅作書記；
¹⁸ 耶何耶大的兒子比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人。大衛的眾子都作領袖。
大衛雖忙於對外的戰爭，卻沒有因此疏忽國內的政務。
I. 他的關懷遍及他所治理的每一個部分：他作以色列眾人的王（2Sa 8:15）；他不僅有權治理所有支派，而且實際如此治理——他們都在他的保護之下安然無恙，並共享他善政的果實。
II. 他以不偏不倚、毫不動搖的手行公義：他向眾民秉公行義——既不行不義，也不對任何人拒絕或拖延公義。這表明：1. 他的勤勉和對政務的專注，以及他平易近人、樂於接受一切向他提出的請求和申訴。他的一切百姓，連最卑微的人，甚至最卑微的支派中的人，都可來到他的議事桌前。2. 他的公正和施政的公平——在施行公義上，他從不因偏愛或人情而歪曲公義，在審判中也不看人的情面。他在此預表了基督——基督是誠信真實的，祂按公義審判，並按公義爭戰（Re 19:11）。請參閱Ps 72:1,2。
III. 他在朝廷中維持了良好的秩序和良好的官員。大衛是頭一位擁有確立政權的君王（因為掃羅的統治短暫而不穩），所以他得以對行政架構加以規劃。在掃羅時代，我們除了元帥押尼珥之外，讀不到別的高級官員。但大衛任命了更多的官員：約押為野戰軍總司令，比拿雅統轄基利提人和比利提人——他們或是城中的民兵（亞蘭文譯本作弓箭手和甩石手），更可能是護衛軍或常備軍，跟隨在君王身邊——相當於御林軍、民兵。他們隨時待命服役，協助施行公義、維持公共治安。我們看見他們在宣告所羅門登基時被使用（1Ki 1:38）。2. 兩位宗教官員：撒督和亞希米勒作祭司——就是說，他們在大祭司亞比亞他之下，最多從事祭司的工作。3. 兩位文職官員：一位作史官，或稱提醒官，負責按時提醒君王當辦的事務（他是國家首席大臣，但不像有人論到我國大法官那樣受託照管君王的良心，而只是照管君王的記憶——只要讓君王想起當辦的事，他自己便會去辦）；另一位作書記，或稱國務秘書，負責起草公開的命令和公文，並記錄已下的判決。4. 大衛的兒子們長大到可以辦事之時，都被立為領袖；他們在宮廷中、在軍營中、或在司法機關中，按著各自的才幹，被指派榮譽和信任的職位。他們在大王左右作領袖（1Ch 18:17如此解釋）——在他身邊任職，好使他們在他眼前。我們的主耶穌也在祂的國中設立了官員——為祂的榮耀和社群的福祉；當祂升上高天之時，就將這些恩賜賞給人（Eph 4:8-11），各人按著自己的本分（Mk 13:34）。大衛使他的兒子們作領袖；但一切信徒——基督屬靈的兒女——卻得了更好的位分，因為他們被歸於我們的神作君王和祭司（Re 1:6）。
英文原文
David's Administration of the Government of Israel (1042 BC)
¹⁵ And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
¹⁶ And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
¹⁷ And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
¹⁸ And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
David was not so engaged in his wars abroad as to neglect the administration of the government at home.
I. His care extended itself to all the parts of his dominion: He reigned over all Israel (2Sa 8:15); not only he had a right to reign over all the tribes, but he did so; they were all safe under his protection, and shared in the fruits of his good government.
II. He did justice with an unbiased unshaken hand: He executed judgment unto all his people, neither did wrong nor denied or delayed right to any. This intimates, 1. His industry and close application to business, his easiness of access and readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him. All his people, even the meanest, and those too of the meanest tribes, were welcome to his council-board. 2. His impartiality and the equity of his proceedings, in administering justice. He never perverted justice through favour or affection, nor had respect of persons in judgment. Herein he was a type of Christ, who was faithful and true, and who doth in righteousness both judge and make war, Re 19:11. See Ps 72:1,2.
III. He kept good order and good officers in his court. David being the first king that had an established government (for Saul's reign was short and unsettled) he had the modelling of the administration. In Saul's time we read of no other great officer than Abner, that was captain of the host. But David appointed more officers: Joab that was general of the forces in the field, and Banaiah that was over the Cherethites and Pelethites, who were either the city train-bands (archers and slingers, so the Chaldee), or rather the life-guards, or standing force, that attended the king's person, the pretorian band, the militia. They were ready to do service at home, to assist in the administering of justice, and to preserve the public peace. We find them employed in proclaiming Solomon, 1Ki 1:38. 2. Two ecclesiastical officers: Zadok and Ahimelech were priests, that is, they were most employed in the priests' work under Abiathar, the high priest. 3. Two civil officers: one that was recorder, or remembrancer, to put the king in mind of business in its season (he was prime minister of state, yet not entrusted with the custody of the king's conscience, as they say of our lord chancellor, but only of the king's memory; let the king be put in mind of business and he would do it himself); another that was scribe, or secretary of state, that drew up public orders and despatches, and recorded judgments given. 4. David's sons, as they grew up to be fit for business, were made chief rulers; they had places of honour and trust assigned them, in the household, or in the camp, or in the courts of justice, according as their genius led them. They were chief about the king (so it is explained, 1Ch 18:17), employed near him, that they might be under his eye. Our Lord Jesus has appointed officers in his kingdom, for his honour and the good of the community; when he ascended on high he gave these gifts (Eph 4:8-11), to every man his work, Mk 13:34. David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ's spiritual seed, are better preferred, for they are made to our God kings and priests, Re 1:6.
大衛既先求神的國和祂的義——在自己安頓好之後便立即安頓約櫃——我們在此看見其他一切是怎樣加給他的。這裏記著：I. 他的征服戰績。他勝過：1. 非利士人（撒下8:1）。2. 摩押人（撒下8:2）。3. 瑣巴王（撒下8:3,4）。4. 亞蘭人（撒下8:5-8,13）。5. 以東人（撒下8:14）。II. 列國所送來的禮物和他從被征服的列國所得的財富——他都獻給了神（撒下8:9-12）。III. 他的朝廷，他的施政（撒下8:15），以及他的主要臣宰（撒下8:16-18）。這給我們一個大衛治世繁榮的概略。