1 And after this it came to passe, that Dauid smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and Dauid tooke Metheg-Ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them downe to the ground: euen with two lines measured he, to put to death, and with one full line to keepe aliue: and so the Moabites became Dauids seruants, and brought gifts.
3 ¶ Dauid smote also Hadadezer the sonne of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recouer his border at the riuer Euphrates.
4 And Dauid tooke from him a thousand charets, and seuen hundred horsemen, and twentie thousand footemen: and Dauid houghed all the charet horses, but reserued of them for an hundred charets.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, Dauid slew of the Syrians two and twentie thousand men.
6 Then Dauid put garisons in Syria of Damascus: And the Syrians became seruants to Dauid, and brought gifts: and the Lord preserued Dauid whithersoeuer he went.
7 And Dauid tooke the shields of gold that were on the seruants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Ierusalem.
8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King Dauid tooke exceeding much brasse.
9 ¶ When Toi king of Hamath heard that Dauid had smitten all the hoste of Hadadezer,
10 Then Toi sent Ioram his sonne vnto king Dauid to salute him, and to blesse him, because hee had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: (for Hadadezer had warres with Toi) and Ioram brought with him vessels of siluer, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brasse;
11 Which also king Dauid did dedicate vnto the Lord, with the siluer and gold that he had dedicate of all nations which he subdued:
12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, & of Amalek, and of the spoile of Hadadezer sonne of Rehob king of Zobah.
13 And Dauid gate him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteene thousand men.
14 ¶ And he put garrisons in Edom; thorowout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became Dauids seruants: and the Lord preserued Dauid whithersoeuer he went.
15 And Dauid reigned ouer all Israel, and Dauid executed iudgement and iustice vnto all his people.
16 And Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah was ouer the host, and Iehoshaphat the sonne of Ahilud was Recorder.
17 And Zadok the sonne of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the sonne of Abiathar, were the Priests, and Seraiah was the scribe.
18 And Benaiah the sonne of Iehoiada was ouer both the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and Dauids sonnes were chiefe rulers.
David subdues the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Syrians. (1-8) The spoil dedicated. (9-14) David's government and officers. (15-18)1-8. David subdued the Philistines. They had long been troublesome to Israel. And after the long and frequent struggles the saints have with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son of David shall tread them all under foot, and make the saints more than conquerors. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel. Two parts he destroyed, the third part he spared. The line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost. He smote the Syrians. In all these wars David was protected, for this in his psalms he often gives glory to God.
9-14 All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. The idols of gold David destroyed, #2Sa 5:21|, but the 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 must be mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated; thus the property of it is altered. God employs his servants in various ways; some, as David, in spiritual battles; others, as Solomon, in spiritual buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the glory of all.
15-18 David neither did wrong, nor denied or delayed right to any. This speaks his close application to business; also his readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him. He had no respect of persons in judgment. Herein he was a type of Christ. To Him let us submit, his friendship let us seek, his service let us count our pleasure, diligently attending to the work he assigns to each of us. David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ's spiritual seed, are better preferred, for they are made kings and priests to our God, #Re 1:6|.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.