Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 8:14
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.
14. garrisons ] See note on 2Sa 8:6. Stress is laid by the words throughout all Edom on the completeness with which David subjugated the country. Thus was fulfilled the first part of Isaac’s prophecy (Gen 27:37-40), and Balaam’s prophecy (Num 24:17-18).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. He put garrisons in Edom] He repaired the strong cities which he had taken, and put garrisons in them to keep the country in awe.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he put garrisons in Edom,…. To keep the inhabitants in subjection to him; as their forts and strong holds came into his hands, he placed companies of soldiers in them for the said purpose; or governors, as the Targum, men of his own nation, into whose hands he put their principal cities, who governed them for him, and under him. Jarchi interprets it of officers appointed to collect the tribute he exacted of them:
throughout all Edom put he garrisons; which is observed to show that the whole country was brought into subjection to him:
and all they of Edom became David’s servants; and hereby were fulfilled the oracle delivered to Rebekah, and the prophetic blessing of Isaac, Ge 25:23;
and the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went;
[See comments on 2Sa 8:6].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Davids Government. 2Sa. 8:14-18
14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became Davids servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
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 Seriah was the spribe;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and Davids sons were chief rulers.
6.
What was the extent of Davids Kingdom? 2Sa. 8:13-14
The land of Edom reached from the southern part of the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. The borders may be set as having extended from south of Akabah to the Euphrates river after Davids extensive conquest. No student need wonder at the terrible severity shown with regard to the Edomites when it is remembered that the Edomites and the Israelites had always been enemies. Garrisons were needed in the land of Edom, because it was such an important country. The garrisons would provide means for controlling the country.
Thus it was that under the mighty hand of the warrior David as he was blessed by God the kingdom came to its mightiest influence. The land that was at times subdued first by the Egyptians and then by the Chaldeans, the land that was so important to link together the civilizations of the Nile and the Euphrates valley was now under the control of a people who knew Jehovah and feared him. The Promised Land became a glorious reality to the seed of Abraham.
7.
How did David organize his kingdom? 2Sa. 8:16-18
In this passage we have a very accurate listing of the offices and officers instituted by David to care for the military, religious, and civil functions of the kingdom. A listing of these officers is as follows:
Joab
Chief of Staff (over the host)
Jehoshaphat
Recorder (Chronicler)
Abiathar (at Zion)
Priests
Zadok (Gibeon)
Seraiah
Secretary of State (Scribe)
Benaiah
Provincial Governor
(over the Cherethites and Pelethites)
Davids sons
Chief Ministers
Most interesting is the way in which Seraiah, the scribe is mentioned. With all the other ministers, notice is made of their ancestry. No mention is made of the name of the father of Seraiah. It is possible that he was a foreigner. It was the duty of the recorder to keep the annals of the kingdom and call Davids attention to the needs of the kingdom. The scribes duty was the writing of the official documents. Other men were entrusted with the oversight of subdivisions of the kingdom. The Cherethites and the Pelethites were a part of the Philistine peoples.
Benaiah had been distinguished through his killing of two prominent men of Moab. He had also killed a lion in a pit, the account of which is one of the very interesting sidelights of the Scripture. It was this same Benaiah who met an Egyptian, disarmed him, took his spear from him, and killed him with his own weapon. Benaiah was a descendant of Eleazar, the son of Aaron.
8.
Who was the high priest? 2Sa. 8:17
The listing of these sames says, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. This is the mistake of taking the son for the father, for according to 1Sa. 22:11; 1Sa. 22:20, Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech.
Keil and Delitzsch in their Commentaries on the Old Testament, suggest that Zadok officiated at the tabernacle at Gibeon (1Ch. 16:39), and Abiathar probably tended the Ark of the Covenant upon Mount Zion. Even so, it is very strange to find an Ahimelech named since Abiathar was the son of an Ahimelech, according to 1Sa. 22:20; and in other passages, Zadok and Abiathar are mentioned as the two high priests under David (2Sa. 15:24; 2Sa. 15:35; 2Sa. 17:15; 2Sa. 19:12; 2Sa. 20:25). Some commentators transpose the names and read here Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech. Such a solution to the problem is ruled out by the fact that in 1Ch. 24:3-6; 1Ch. 24:31, Ahimelech is mentioned along with Zadok as head of the priests of the line of Ithamar. According to verse six, in that reference, an Ahimelech was the son of Abiathar. It would, therefore, be necessary to change the name Ahimelech to Abiathar, and this is too great a change to ascribe to a copyist. It is possible that Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, also had a son named Ahimelech. It is, by no means, uncommon for grandfather and grandson to have the same name (I Chronicles 5:3041). The younger Ahimelech may have performed the duties of the high priest in connection with his father who was still living at the beginning of Solomons reign (1Ki. 2:27). Probably Ahimelech is mentioned here as the titular holder of the office, but since he was killed by Doeg, in the days of Saul, his son was serving in his place. Later references then attribute the office of priest to Abiathar.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(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.
May we not spiritualize this passage, and truly say, in allusion to the holy war, when the Lord hath subdued the corruptions of our nature by the conquests of his grace, doth not the Holy Spirit garrison our souls with his divine presence, and convert the very weapons, our time and talents, which in a state of nature, we brought forward as the artillery against heaven; doth not the Lord convert these very things to his own glory and service?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 8:14 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.
Ver. 14. And he put garrisons in Edom. ] He cast out his shoe over them, as Psa 60:8 . See Trapp on “ Psa 60:8 “ he set a deputy or viceroy there; 1Ki 22:47 and here the elder brother began to serve the younger, according to the oracle, Gen 25:23 .
And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
garrisons, or political residents.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all they: Gen 25:23, Gen 27:29, Gen 27:37, Gen 27:40, Num 24:18, 1Ki 22:47, 1Ch 18:13, Psa 60:8, Psa 60:9, Psa 108:9, Psa 108:10
the Lord: 2Sa 8:6, Psa 121:4-8
Reciprocal: 2Sa 7:9 – And I was 2Sa 22:38 – General 1Ki 2:3 – whithersoever 1Ki 11:15 – when David 2Ki 8:20 – made a king 2Ki 18:7 – he prospered 1Ch 17:8 – I have been 1Ch 18:12 – slew of the Edomites Psa 139:3 – my path Psa 140:7 – thou hast covered Rom 9:12 – The elder
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 8:14. Throughout all Edom put he garrisons Having conquered the whole country, he garrisoned the strongest places in it with his own men, to keep them in subjection to him. Some of the Jews interpret these words, He put captains, or commanders, in Edom, that is, great men to govern them, and, as his deputies, to raise a tribute from them. Now began to be fulfilled the extraordinary prediction to Rebekah, recorded by Moses, Gen 25:22, but not begun to be accomplished till many centuries after his death, namely, The elder shall serve the younger. Then also was fulfilled that prophecy of Balaam, mentioned Numbers 24., Edom shall be a possession, &c. The Lord preserved David, &c. God, in his providence, still watched over and protected him, as before, (2Sa 8:6,) in all these expeditions. All Davids victories were typical of the success of the gospel over the kingdom of Satan, in which the Son of David rode forth, conquering and to conquer, and will reign till he has brought down all opposing rule, principality, and power.