David smites the Philistines, Moab, Hadadezer of Zobah, and Aram of Damascus; garrisons stand in Edom; and David executes justice and righteousness to all his people.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
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.
verse value 3784
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֥ךְ) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 3784 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֥ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Philistine" (אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 14: David, David. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·he·subdued·them" (וַיַּכְנִיעֵ֑ם), "bridle" (אֶת־מֶ֥תֶג), "maid-servant" (הָאַמָּ֖ה). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "after·thus" (root אחר, 61x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·he·subdued·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֔ן [after·thus] (289) + וַיַּ֥ךְ [and·he·smote] (36) + דָּוִ֛ד [David] (14) + אֶת־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים [Philistine] (1261) + וַיַּכְנִיעֵ֑ם [and·he·subdued·them] (206) + וַיִּקַּ֥ח [and·took] (124) + דָּוִ֛ד [David] (14) + אֶת־מֶ֥תֶג [bridle] (844) + הָאַמָּ֖ה [maid-servant] (51) + מִיַּ֥ד [from·hand·of] (54) + פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים [Philistine] (860) = 3784.
Rashi
Metheg-ammah [the bridle of the metropolis]. And in Chronicles (I 18:1) it is written: 'And David took Gath from the hand of the Philistines,' and it is called 'Metheg-ammah,' because it is a rod that rules over all the Philistines, the metropolis of kings. For we have not found among all the lords of the Philistines, in Gaza, Ashdod, Ekron, and Ashkelon, the name of a kingdom; only in Gath do we find (I Samuel 21:11): 'Achish, king of Gath.'
The bridle. 'Aguillon' in French.
The ammah. It is the wooden oxgoad.
Radak
"[And David took] Metheg-ammah [the bit of the channel]." Targum [Yonatan] translates: "the repair of the channel." Perhaps a water conduit passed through the city, and they repaired it to bring [water] from outside the city into the city; therefore the city was called "Metheg ha-Ammah." And in its place, Chronicles has: "Gath and its daughter-towns" from the hand of the Philistines — Gath and its daughter-towns were collectively called "Metheg ha-Ammah." There is a midrash on this in the Baraita of Rabbi Eliezer [Pirkei d'Rabbi Eliezer], chapter 36: When Abimelech came to Isaac and said to him, "See, we have seen that the LORD is with you," etc., they said, "We know that the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to give to you and to your seed all these lands. Make a covenant with us, an oath, that your seed shall not inherit the land of the Philistines." And he made a covenant with them, an oath. What did Isaac do? He cut one strap from the bit of the donkey's bridle on which he was riding and gave it to them, so that it would be in their hand as a sign of the covenant oath. And when David reigned, he wished to enter the land of the Philistines, but he could not do so by virtue of that sign of the covenant from Isaac's oath, until he took from them that covenant token, as it is said: "And David took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines." And only afterward did he take the land of the Philistines.
Ralbag
Metheg-ammah from the Philistines. Behold, it is written in its place in the book of Chronicles, 'Gath and its daughters.' And perhaps that district was called 'Metheg-ammah.' And in Moab he measured two cords to kill and a full cord to keep alive. And our Sages of blessed memory said that it was because they [the Moabites] killed his father and mother, for he had already brought them to the king of Moab, as mentioned above. But if the matter were so, the explanation of 'and they dwelt with him all the days of David's being in the stronghold' would be: that from the time David departed from there, they [the Moabites] did not preserve them, and killed them.
Metzudat David
"Metheg-ammah." And in Chronicles (I 18:1) it is said: Gath and its villages, and perhaps Metheg-ammah is a general name for Gath with its villages, and it was called so on account of its being a metropolis in the land of the Philistines, and in all five of their great cities there was no king except in Gath, and all of them were subject to his command and given into his hand, like the bit of a donkey that is placed in a man's hand, to lead it wherever he wishes:
Metzudat Zion
The bit. It is like a bridle made to lead the beast with it, as (Proverbs 26:3) a bit for an ass.
The cubit, the measure of the forearm, and so (Deuteronomy 3:11): a man's cubit.
Malbim
And it came to pass afterward that the Lord informed him through the prophet that he was not to build the House, because his enemies had not yet been cut off from before him. Seeing that it was the will of the Lord that he should not yet rest from war, he therefore went out to seek his enemies and to wage war against them in their land. Whereas until now the Philistines had come into his land and he had not subdued them, now he went into their land and subdued them. He also took a region of their land, [called] "Metheg-ammah." And in Chronicles it explains [this as] "Gath and its daughters," and our Sages of blessed memory have a midrashic exposition on this: Why is it called "Metheg-ammah"?
And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought presents.
verse value 4416
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 89 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֣ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֣ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "two·lines" (שְׁנֵֽי־חֲבָלִים֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 450: Moab, two·lines. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Moab" (אֶת־מוֹאָ֗ב), "and·he·measured·them" (וַֽיְמַדְּדֵ֤ם), "in·the·cord" (בַּחֶ֙בֶל֙). The root מואב appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "to·servants" (root עבד, 109x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root מואב ("Moab") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root חבל ("in·the·cord") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·keep·alive', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Rashi
And he measured two cords to put to death. Because they killed his father, mother, and brothers, as is said (I Samuel 22:4): 'and he brought them before the king of Moab'; and we have not found that they came out from there.
Radak
"And he measured them with a cord, and laid them down on the ground." This was a way of vengeance and humiliation. The Targum [Yonatan] translates "cord" as "adba," meaning lot and portion. And they said in a midrash that he did this because they [the Moabites] had killed his father, mother, and brothers when he had left them for safekeeping in the land of Moab while fleeing from Saul, as it says, "and he brought them before the king of Moab," etc. And when David left from there and went to the city of Hamath, the king of Moab killed his father, mother, and brothers, except for one who fled, whom Nahash the Ammonite kept alive. This is the kindness that David referred to when he said, "As his [Nahash's] father did kindness with me."
And Moab was. The congregation of Moab:
“Bearers of the tribute.” The Targum translates it as “those who take the tribute,” meaning that they used to carry a fixed tax for him each year.
Metzudat David
And He measured them with a cord. And He returns to explain how He measured them, and He said that He laid them on the ground, etc.
Those who brought a gift. They would bring him a gift year after year.
Metzudat Zion
And a full cable. The measure of a complete rope.
Malbim
"And he smote Moab": Our Sages of blessed memory expounded (Numbers Rabbah 14) that this was because they had killed his father and mother when he fled from Saul, as it is stated (1 Samuel 22:4), "And he brought them before the king of Moab." [David] took vengeance upon them, and killed two-thirds of them; and in a manner of contempt, he laid them prostrate on the ground. He did not strive to spare the mighty men, for they became servants bearing tribute, meaning tax-payers.
Cross-references: Numbers 24:17; I Samuel 22:3; I Chronicles 18:2
David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to establish his dominion at the river Euphrates.
verse value 3215
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֣ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֣ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Hadadezer" (אֶת־הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Hadadezer" (אֶת־הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר), "at·river·of·Euphrates" (בִּֽנְהַר־פְּרָֽת). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "son·of·Rehob" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root צובה ("Zoba") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Zoba', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words.
Rashi
When he went. When Hadadezer went.
To restore his hand. As its Targum: 'to alter his border'—for he conquered from the land outside the border of his land, and expanded his border.
Radak
"When he went to restore his hand at the Euphrates River": When Hadadezer went to restore his border at the Euphrates River, for he was encroaching on Israel's border, to widen his own border into their land. And Targum [Yonatan renders]: "to change his borders," and in the Book of Chronicles it reads: "to set his hand." Although these are two different expressions, the matter is one. Hadadezer had initially helped Israel, and [then] took from their land. Therefore David said in the Psalm: "God, You have forsaken us; You have broken through us; You have made the land quake; You have split it open," etc. And now he came to establish his border up to the place he had conquered from the Land of Israel, near the Euphrates River. And David strengthened himself against him by the will of God and struck him.
Metzudat David
"When he went to restore his hand." When he went to restore his position again, to widen the borders of his land:
Metzudat Zion
To restore. From the word restoration.
His hand. His place.
Malbim
To restore his hand, and in Chronicles, "to set up his hand," since Hadadezer was ruling by the Euphrates River, near the border of Israel, and he had there a "hand"—meaning a constructed monument bearing the image of a hand as a sign that he had conquered it by his hand, as it is stated (1 Samuel 15:12), "And behold, he has set up for himself a monument"—David removed this monument, and went to restore it, that is, to set it up again, meaning to conquer the land.
Cross-references: I Samuel 15:12; II Samuel 18:18; I Chronicles 18:3
And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.
verse value 5181
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 75 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֜ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·seven·hundred" (וּשְׁבַע־מֵאוֹת֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 136: from·him, from·him. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·seven·hundred" (וּשְׁבַע־מֵאוֹת֙), "and·he·houghed" (וַיְעַקֵּ֤ר), "all·the·chariots" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָרֶ֔כֶב). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel); "and·seven·hundred" (root שבע, 32x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root יתר ("and·he·reserved") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'foot', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Rashi
And David hamstrung all the chariot horses. Because of (Deuteronomy 17:16): 'He shall not multiply horses for himself.'
And more than him, a hundred chariots. That they needed for his chariot; and the chariot [has] four horses, as is said (II Chronicles 1:17): 'A chariot for six hundred pieces of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty'—here we learn that the chariot has four horses.
Radak
"And David captured from him." The text does not say "and he struck," indicating that he did not strike them, but rather that those whom he struck in his battle against them and his overpowering them to defeat them, he captured this number that is stated, and he took from them a ransom for their lives. And so the Targum translates: "And he captured and bound," meaning that he bound them in chains until they ransomed themselves.
A thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And in Chronicles it says: a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen. Here [in Samuel] it counts the great officers who were in Hadadezer's camp, whereas there [in Chronicles] it counts all the chariots and horsemen. Thus here it does not mention the number of chariots, whereas there it does mention them; and the foot soldiers are mentioned here, but are not mentioned there.
“And David hamstrung.” Since it is forbidden for him to multiply horses, as it is written, “Neither shall he multiply horses for himself,” yet he did not kill them, because it is forbidden to destroy a created being through wanton destruction, unless it is harmful, or something from which benefit is forbidden, or in order to blot out [its] memory — as with Amalek, of whom it is said, “from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey,” and he annihilated them, so that the soldiers would not take [plunder] from them. And hamstringing was permitted with regard to the horses of enemies, so that they would no longer fight against Israel with them, as God commanded Joshua, “You shall hamstring their horses.” And hamstringing means stripping their hooves from the knee downward, so that they cannot move from their place.
“And he retained a hundred chariots from it.” These are four hundred horses. He retained them for his needs, according to [the number required for] his chariotry, for the Torah did not prohibit multiplying horses except idle horses, so that Israel would not become accustomed to going to Egypt, for from there they used to bring the horses. Therefore, he should not have idle horses, but only according to his needs.
Ralbag
And David hamstrung all the chariot horses. He did this so that he would not increase horses for himself, as the commandment about this came in the Torah.
Metzudat David
"And he hamstrung [them]." Because it is said (Deuteronomy 17:16): Neither shall he multiply horses for himself:
Metzudat Zion
The horsemen. They are those who ride horses, accustomed to this.
He crippled. Removed the foundation, and they are the legs, which are the foundation of the beast, and so (Joshua 11:6): cripple their horses.
Chariot. They are of four horses.
Malbim
A thousand and seven hundred horsemen. And in Chronicles it is written: "A thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen." Behold, in every chariot there were several horsemen, meaning horses, and there were ten horses for each chariot, and one rider was appointed over the horses of the chariot. Here, however, he counted all the horses in each chariot as one horseman, and therefore he combined the chariots with the horsemen. In Chronicles, he counted each horseman, meaning each horse, individually, and therefore he counted a thousand chariots separately, and seven thousand horsemen, that is, horses. Likewise, in what is stated below (10:18), "seven hundred chariots," it is written in Chronicles: "seven thousand chariots," for this same reason. And he hamstrung [them] on account of the principle, "He shall not multiply horses for himself."
And when the Arameans of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Arameans two and twenty thousand men.
verse value 3655
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 55 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֤ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "Aram" (אֲרַ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "twenty·year" (עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם, 10 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "to·help" (לַעְזֹ֕ר), "to·Hadarezer" (לַהֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר), "twenty·year" (עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם). The root ארם appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "man" (root איש, 140x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root ארם ("Aram") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root עזר ("to·help") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Zoba', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַתָּבֹא֙ [and·came] (409) + אֲרַ֣ם [Aram] (241) + דַּמֶּ֔שֶׂק [Damascus] (444) + לַעְזֹ֕ר [to·help] (307) + לַהֲדַדְעֶ֖זֶר [to·Hadarezer] (320) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + צוֹבָ֑ה [Zoba] (103) + וַיַּ֤ךְ [and·he·smote] (36) + דָּוִד֙ [David] (14) + בַּאֲרָ֔ם [in·Aram] (243) + עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁנַ֥יִם [twenty·year] (1026) + אֶ֖לֶף [thousand] (111) + אִֽישׁ [man] (311) = 3655.
Radak
Aram-Damascus. Because there is Aram-Tzova, Aram-Naharaim, Aram-Maachah, and Aram-Beth-Rechob.
Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, and brought presents. And Hashem gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
verse value 4016
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֤ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·servants" (לַעֲבָדִ֖ים, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "lifting" (נוֹשְׂאֵ֣י), "and·He·saved" (וַיֹּ֤שַׁע). The root דוד appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root נציב ("garrisons") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gift', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Radak
“Those who bear tribute.” As its Targum [renders it]: “bearers of tribute,” as I have explained.
Ralbag
And David set garrisons in Aram-damascus. He placed from his men as rulers over them, for Aram had become subject to David.
Metzudat David
Officials. Officers and supervisors to collect the tax and rule over them:
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
verse value 2491
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 47 letters. Notable word values: "slave" (עַבְדֵ֣י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to" (אֶ֖ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hadarezer" (הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "shields·of" (שִׁלְטֵ֣י), "gold" (הַזָּהָ֔ב), "and·he·brought·them" (וַיְבִיאֵ֖ם). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "were" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hadarezer', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 2 words.
Rashi
The golden shields. They are quivers in which they put arrows, as it is said (Jeremiah 51:11): 'Polish the arrows, fill the quivers.' All these paragraphs are linked to the paragraph of the Temple, because from all these wars He gathered consecrated things for the needs of the house.
Radak
Sheltei ha-Zahav: The golden shields that were upon the servants of Hadadezer. The explanation is that he took them in battle. And the explanation of "to the servants" is like "upon the servants," as it is stated in Chronicles. And he needed to say "and he brought them to Jerusalem," meaning that he did not give them for ransom, as he gave the horsemen of the servants of Hadadezer for ransom, as stated above. Or, he said "and he brought them to Jerusalem" to indicate that he placed them in the treasury of the House of the Lord as consecrated property.
Metzudat Zion
Shields. Like a shield.
To the servants of [Hadadezer]. [Meaning:] upon the servants of [Hadadezer].
And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
verse value 2555
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "cities·of" (עָרֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·from·Berothai" (וּמִבֵּרֹתַ֖י, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·from·Betah" (וּמִבֶּ֥טַח), "and·from·Berothai" (וּמִבֵּרֹתַ֖י). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "took" (root לקח, 39x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hadarezer', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words. Full calculation: וּמִבֶּ֥טַח [and·from·Betah] (65) + וּמִבֵּרֹתַ֖י [and·from·Berothai] (658) + עָרֵ֣י [cities·of] (280) + הֲדַדְעָ֑זֶר [Hadarezer] (290) + לָקַ֞ח [took] (138) + הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ [king] (95) + דָּוִ֛ד [David] (14) + נְחֹ֖שֶׁת [copper] (758) + הַרְבֵּ֥ה [be or become great] (212) + מְאֹֽד [very] (45) = 2555.
Radak
"And from Betach and from Berothai." In Chronicles it says: "And from Tibhath and from Cun." They had two names: Betach and Tibhath are one, but the letters are reversed.
Malbim
"And from Betah and Berothai" — in Chronicles it is written "Tibhath and Cun"; thus their names had changed, and there [Chronicles] it explains that from this copper Solomon made the Sea, the pillars, and the copper vessels.
And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
verse value 2307
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hadarezer" (הֲדַדְעָֽזֶר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, had·struck. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "all·strength" (כׇּל־חֵ֥יל). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "for" (root כי, 110x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root תעי ("Toi") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hamath', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words.
then Toi sent Joram his son to 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 he brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass.
verse value 6652
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 116 letters. The shortest word is "upon" (עַל֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "Joram·his·son" (אֶת־יֽוֹרָם־בְּנ֣וֹ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 480: Toi, Toi. 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "Joram·his·son" (אֶת־יֽוֹרָם־בְּנ֣וֹ), "to·the·king·David" (אֶל־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ־דָּ֠וִ֠ד), "to·ask·to·him" (לִשְׁאׇל־ל֨וֹ). The root כלי appears 3 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king·David" (root איל, 202x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root רום ("Joram·his·son") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hadarezer', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 6 words.
Radak
“and to bless him.” That God would grant him success in his wars. Or, alternatively, the meaning is “and to present before him an offering,” as it is written, “and in his hand were vessels of silver,” etc., for the offering is termed a “blessing,” as in the verse, “Take, I pray you, my blessing which has been brought to you.”
Metzudat David
"For he is a man of wars." Hadadezer was an enemy and a man of war with Toi.
And in his hand. In the hand of Yoram, son of Toi.
Malbim
To inquire after his welfare and to bless him. And he explains that “to inquire after his welfare” refers to the fact that he had fought Hadadezer, for in this they shared in affection, in that they had a common enemy. And “to bless him” refers to the fact that he had struck him, for this is his blessing, that he is endowed with might to subdue his enemies beneath his feet.
These also did king David dedicate to Hashem, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued:
verse value 3265
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·all·the·nations" (מִכׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "also·them" (גַּם־אֹתָ֕ם), "with·the·silver" (עִם־הַכֶּ֤סֶף), "and·the·gold" (וְהַזָּהָב֙). The root קדש appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root קדש ("he·dedicated") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root כסף ("with·the·silver") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: גַּם־אֹתָ֕ם [also·them] (484) + הִקְדִּ֛ישׁ [he·dedicated] (419) + הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ [king] (95) + דָּוִ֖ד [David] (14) + לַיהֹוָ֑ה [to·Hashem] (56) + עִם־הַכֶּ֤סֶף [with·the·silver] (275) + וְהַזָּהָב֙ [and·the·gold] (25) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + הִקְדִּ֔ישׁ [he·dedicated] (419) + מִכׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם [from·all·the·nations] (154) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + כִּבֵּֽשׁ [he·subdued] (322) = 3265.
Radak
The king consecrated it for the building of the Temple.
Metzudat David
Those also. Those which they brought to him as gifts, he consecrated etc. together with the silver and gold that he consecrated from the spoils of the nations that he conquered, mentioned in the verse following:
of Aram, 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.
verse value 2993
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֥לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·from·Philistines" (וּמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "and·from·Moab" (וּמִמּוֹאָב֙), "and·from·sons·of" (וּמִבְּנֵ֣י), "and·from·Philistines" (וּמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "son·of·Rehob" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel); "and·from·sons·of" (root בן, 76x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root עמון ("Ammon") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·from·Amalek', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: מֵאֲרָ֤ם [from·Aram] (281) + וּמִמּוֹאָב֙ [and·from·Moab] (95) + וּמִבְּנֵ֣י [and·from·sons·of] (108) + עַמּ֔וֹן [Ammon] (166) + וּמִפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים [and·from·Philistines] (906) + וּמֵעֲמָלֵ֑ק [and·from·Amalek] (286) + וּמִשְּׁלַ֛ל [and·from·spoil·of] (406) + הֲדַדְעֶ֥זֶר [Hadarezer] (290) + בֶּן־רְחֹ֖ב [son·of·Rehob] (262) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + צוֹבָֽה [Zoba] (103) = 2993.
And David got him a name when he returned from smiting the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.
verse value 3345
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "name" (שֵׁ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·the·Valley·of·Salt" (בְּגֵיא־מֶ֑לַח, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·his·returning" (בְּשֻׁב֕וֹ), "from·his·smiting" (מֵהַכּוֹת֥וֹ), "in·the·Valley·of·Salt" (בְּגֵיא־מֶ֑לַח). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·did" (root עשה, 79x in II Samuel); "name" (root שם, 63x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root שמנה ("eight") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·Valley·of·Salt', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֤עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + דָּוִד֙ [David] (14) + שֵׁ֔ם [name] (340) + בְּשֻׁב֕וֹ [in·his·returning] (310) + מֵהַכּוֹת֥וֹ [from·his·smiting] (477) + אֶת־אֲרָ֖ם [Aram] (642) + בְּגֵיא־מֶ֑לַח [in·the·Valley·of·Salt] (94) + שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה [eight] (401) + עָשָׂ֖ר [ten] (570) + אָֽלֶף [thousand] (111) = 3345.
Rashi
And David made a name there. That he buried the slain whom he killed in Edom; and it is a good name for Israel, that they bury their enemies; and so it says in the war of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 39:13): 'And all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be a name for them.' And whence that David buried them? As is said in the Book of Kings (I 11:15): 'And it came to pass, when David was in Edom, that Joab, commander of the army, went up to bury the slain.'
Eighteen thousand. And in the Book of Psalms (60:2) he says: 'twelve thousand.' Say therefore, there were two wars.
Radak
“Eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt.” But those twenty-two thousand mentioned above were in another place, and this one was in the Valley of Salt. In I Chronicles, it says, “And Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt,” and in the Book of Psalms it says, “And Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.” Now, in this book [II Samuel] it says “Arameans,” and in the other two books it says “Edomites”; and in the Book of Psalms it says “twelve thousand,” and in the other two books it says “eighteen thousand.” It appears that the war against Edom occurred at the same time as the war against Aram, for so it is written in Psalms: “When he strove with Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and from Aram and from Edom came these eighteen thousand.” And in this book it says “Arameans,” meaning “and those with them,” who are the Edomites; and in the other two books it says “Edomites,” meaning “and those with them,” who are the Arameans. Its explanation is that in I Chronicles it states that Abishai waged war and struck down eighteen thousand of them; and in Psalms it mentions Joab and says twelve thousand. Abishai initiated the battle first and struck down six thousand of them, and afterward Joab waged war with them and struck down twelve thousand. And this is what it says in Psalms, “And Joab returned,” meaning that Joab returned afterward, after Abishai. And in I Chronicles it attributed the entire battle to the name of Abishai because he was the beginning of the war, so it credited all eighteen thousand to his name. And in this book [II Samuel] it attributed the war to the name of David, because he was the principal actor. And in the midrashic interpretation, it says that when Joab went to fight against Aram, the men of Edom rose up against him. They said to him, “Is this not what the verse says, ‘Do not contend with them’?” Joab replied to them, “Is this not what the verse says, ‘You shall pass through the territory of your brother’? Let us pass through.” But they did not agree. Joab said, “If we destroy Edom now, we will not find food or drink upon our return; rather, let us leave them until we strike Aram and then return to deal with them.” Therefore it is said, “And Joab returned and struck down Edom.” The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to them, “What good do you achieve by striking down Edom little by little? Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand, and you killed twelve thousand. When the time comes, I will utterly destroy them and devastate them.” And according to this midrashic interpretation, there were two battles at two different times.
Metzudat David
And David made a name for himself. He performed great acts of valor, and thereby acquired a name.
“Upon his return.” This means: Although he was weary and exhausted from the war against Aram, nevertheless he struck in the Valley of Salt, etc. And in Psalms (60:2) and in Chronicles I (18:12) it is stated that those who were struck were from the sons of Edom. Therefore, in the verse that follows, it says that he appointed governors in Edom.
Malbim
And David made a name for himself, upon his return from striking Aram in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand. And in Chronicles it is written, "And Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand." And in Tehillim (Psalms 60:2), "When He smote Aram Naharaim, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, twelve thousand." And according to what appears, this war was at the end, for he had already counted (in verse 12) the war of the children of Ammon, which was afterwards. And then Aram Naharaim and Zobah were stirred up again, and Edom, being near to Ammon, went out to aid the children of Ammon. And after he had struck Aram twice, as stated in section 10, he struck them in the Valley of Salt, Aram and Edom together: twelve thousand from Edom and six thousand from Aram. And here he mentions Aram, because the main thrust of the war was against them; and in Chronicles he mentions Edom, because they were the majority of the fallen; and in Tehillim he only mentions the twelve thousand who were from Edom, for there he says, "When He smote Aram," and the war against Aram in general was attributed to the name of David, and this is what is written here, "And David made a name for himself." And under him were the officers of the army, Joab and Abishai; therefore, the action is attributed sometimes to one and sometimes to the other. And it can also be said that he struck Edom twice: once twelve thousand and once eighteen thousand. And so is the opinion of our Sages of blessed memory in Tanchuma (Parashat Devarim): "And he put governors in Edom; throughout all Edom he put governors." Meaning, he put governors and they rebelled, and he conquered them all, and he put governors throughout all Edom. And he says again, "And the Lord saved David," for in verse 6 it teaches that even though he conquered Aram Naharaim, which is Syria, which was conquered not according to the Torah (as stated in Sifrei, end of Eikev), and is called for this reason "conquest of an individual," as stated by the Rambam (in Hilkhot Terumot), nevertheless, the Lord saved him. And here he will say that in that he conquered Edom, whose land Israel is destined to take in the future—for Keni, Kenizzi, and Kadmoni are Edom, Ammon, and Moab—the Lord showed him a foretaste of the future and saved him.
Cross-references: I Kings 11:15; Psalms 60:1; Psalms 60:2; I Chronicles 18:12
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Hashem gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
verse value 2979
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thered" (שָׂ֣ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·all·Edom" (בְּכׇל־אֱדוֹם֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 192: garrisons, garrisons. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "in·Edom" (בֶּאֱד֜וֹם), "in·all·Edom" (בְּכׇל־אֱדוֹם֙), "all·Edom" (כׇל־אֱד֖וֹם). The root נציב appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "that" (root אשר, 188x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'of·David', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
Governors. Officers to collect tribute.
Radak
"In all Edom he set up governors." Since it says, "And he set up governors in Aram-Damascus," it says, "In all Edom he set up governors," so that you should not think that in only one place in Edom he set up governors, as in Aram-Damascus, where he did not set them up in the rest of Aram; rather, in all of Edom he set up governors.
Metzudat David
In all Edom. And not one city remained without an official:
And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness to all his people.
verse value 2061
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·all·Israel" (עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 14: David, David. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "upon·all·Israel" (עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל), "judgment" (מִשְׁפָּ֥ט), "and·righteousness" (וּצְדָקָ֖ה). The root דוד appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 242x in II Samuel); "and·it·was" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root משפט ("judgment") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root צדקה ("and·righteousness") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·all·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + דָּוִ֖ד [David] (14) + עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [upon·all·Israel] (691) + וַיְהִ֣י [and·it·was] (31) + דָוִ֗ד [David] (14) + עֹשֶׂ֛ה [doing] (375) + מִשְׁפָּ֥ט [judgment] (429) + וּצְדָקָ֖ה [and·righteousness] (205) + לְכׇל־עַמּֽוֹ [all·with] (196) = 2061.
Rashi
And David executed justice, etc., and Joab was over the army. David caused Joab to be successful over the army, because he [David] executed justice and righteousness; and Joab caused David to execute justice and righteousness, because he [David] judged, and Joab was an officer and enforcer under his hand. And further, since Joab was occupied with wars, David was not troubled by them, and his heart was open to judge justly.
Radak
“And David reigned over all Israel.” This refers to the time when he had conquered all the wars and the house of Saul was no more, so that there was no person in Israel who questioned his kingship.
"Judgment and righteousness." As its Targum translates it, "true judgment." This means: He judged truthfully in the disputes between man and man, and he also practiced righteousness with them, as they needed him to do.
Ralbag
And David did justice and righteousness to all his people. Behold, 'righteousness' is said of more than what 'justice' is said, for justice is what is required according to the law, and righteousness is what is required according to the complete traits, of giving to each person what is fitting for him, whether kindness or justice.
Metzudat David
A judgment. Between a man and his brother:
"And charity." From his own [resources], to provide for those in need to receive:
Malbim
"And David was" — that which is sought of a king consists of two things, as it is stated (1 Samuel 9:20): "and our king shall judge us, and he shall go out before us, and fight our wars." And after he turned away from the wars, he occupied himself with judgment, and he also performed righteousness and kindness for the poor.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
verse value 1390
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "and·Joab" (וְיוֹאָ֥ב, 5 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Ahilud" (בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "making·mention·of" (מַזְכִּֽיר). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Joab" (root יואב, 101x in II Samuel); "son·of·Zeruiah" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root זכר ("making·mention·of") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'over·the·host', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְיוֹאָ֥ב [and·Joab] (25) + בֶּן־צְרוּיָ֖ה [son·of·Zeruiah] (363) + עַל־הַצָּבָ֑א [over·the·host] (198) + וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט [and·Jehoshaphat] (416) + בֶּן־אֲחִיל֖וּד [son·of·Ahilud] (111) + מַזְכִּֽיר [making·mention·of] (277) = 1390.
Rashi
Remembrancer. He reminds which law came before him first, to rule upon it first.
Radak
"Recorder." As its Targum [Yonatan] translates: "[he is] appointed over the records," meaning that he is appointed over the book of records.
Metzudat David
“Concerning the army.” He was a commander over a division of the military force.
"Who reminds." He was appointed over the Book of Remembrances.
and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;
verse value 2066
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "scribe" (סוֹפֵֽר, 4 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Ahitub" (בֶּן־אֲחִיט֛וּב, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Samuel. Unique to this verse in II Samuel (hapax): "son·of·Ahitub" (בֶּן־אֲחִיט֛וּב), "and·Ahimelech" (וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ), "and·Seraiah" (וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Ahitub" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root צדוק ("and·Zadok") in II Samuel. First appearance of the root כהן ("priests") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'priests', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 2 words. Full calculation: וְצָד֧וֹק [and·Zadok] (206) + בֶּן־אֲחִיט֛וּב [son·of·Ahitub] (88) + וַאֲחִימֶ֥לֶךְ [and·Ahimelech] (115) + בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֖ר [son·of·Abiathar] (665) + כֹּהֲנִ֑ים [priests] (125) + וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה [and·Seraiah] (521) + סוֹפֵֽר [scribe] (346) = 2066.
Radak
The priests. The officers of the priesthood, for he appointed Zadok to be High Priest from the descendants of Eleazar, and his deputy, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, from the descendants of Ithamar, even though Abiathar was still alive. For we see that Solomon expelled him from being a priest; it appears that this was done by the command of David, for just as David arranged the heads of the ancestral houses, he arranged Zadok and Ahimelech, as it is written in Chronicles. And he was called both Ahimelech and Abimelech, for the two names are similar.
"And Seraiah was scribe." And in Chronicles it says "Shavsha"; he had two names.
Metzudat David
Priests. Meaning: the chiefs of the priests; Zadok was the [priest] anointed for war, and Ahimelech was his deputy. And he did not count Abiathar as high priest, for he was not appointed now, but [his appointment dated] from when [David] reigned only over Judah. But Joab, even though he was captain of the army from then, was nevertheless appointed now to be captain over the entire army, even that of Israel too. Or perhaps: because David went back and appointed Zadok as high priest, therefore he did not count Abiathar, for there was nothing enduring in his appointment:
Metzudat Zion
Seraiah. And in I Chronicles (18:16) he is called Shusha, and below (above 20:25) he is called Shoa, and he was called by three names, and it is a great rule in the Prophets: wherever it is said sometimes one way and sometimes another.
Cross-references: I Samuel 22:20; II Samuel 20:5; II Samuel 20:25; I Chronicles 18:16
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
verse value 1636
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָוִ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Jehoiada" (בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע, 8 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "David" (root דוד, 250x in II Samuel); "were" (root היה, 153x in II Samuel); "son·of·Jehoiada" (root בין, 98x in II Samuel). First appearance of the root בניהו ("and·Benaiah") in II Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·Pelethites', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: וּבְנָיָ֙הוּ֙ [and·Benaiah] (79) + בֶּן־יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע [son·of·Jehoiada] (157) + וְהַכְּרֵתִ֖י [and·the·Cherethite] (641) + וְהַפְּלֵתִ֑י [and·the·Pelethites] (531) + וּבְנֵ֥י [and·sons·of] (68) + דָוִ֖ד [David] (14) + כֹּהֲנִ֥ים [priests] (125) + הָיֽוּ [were] (21) = 1636.
Rashi
And Benaiah, son of Yehoyada, and Kereti and Peleti. Yonatan translated: 'And Benaiah, son of Yehoyada, was appointed over the bowmen and the slingers.' And our Sages said (Berachot 4a): Kereti and Peleti—the Urim and Thummim.
They were priests. Yonatan translated: 'They were great men.'
Radak
"Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites." Targum Yonatan: "Benaiah son of Jehoiada was appointed over the archers and over the slingers" — that is, Benaiah was appointed over the archers and over the slingers. And the vav of "and the Cherethites" is like "over" or like "with," as in [the phrase] "and Joseph was in Egypt" [Exodus 1:5, i.e., "with Joseph who was in Egypt"], and [as in] "iniquity and assembly" [Isaiah 1:13, i.e., "iniquity with assembly"]. And so it also says in Chronicles [I Chronicles 18:17], "over the Cherethites." And there are those who explain that Cherethites and Pelethites were two families in Israel who were subject to the king's command and saw his face constantly, and Benaiah was their head. And our Rabbis of blessed memory interpreted them as referring to the Urim and Thummim.
“And the sons of David were priests.” As its Targum renders it: “And the sons of David were great men,” meaning that they were great and appointed over all of them. And in Chronicles it says: “The first to the king’s hand.” And in the words of our Sages of blessed memory, they were scholars. And why did it call them “priests”? Just as the High Priest takes a portion at the head, so too a scholar takes a portion at the head.
Ralbag
and the Kerethites and the Pelethites. It is said that they were two families in Israel, and our rabbis explained that they are the Sanhedrin. And they said: Kerethites -- those who sever their words; Pelethites -- those who are wondrous in their deeds. And David's sons were priests, that is to say, commanders and rulers. And behold, this matter was the cause of many of the evils that came to David, for if the matter were not so, Absalom would not have rebelled, and Amnon and Adonijah would not have been killed, as will be seen with a little consideration. And in general, if the king had paid attention to the education of his sons, this would not have happened to them.
Metzudat David
"And the Cherethites and the Pelethites." Targum Yonatan [renders]: "קַשְׁתַּיָּא וְקַלְעַיָּא" (archers and slingers); meaning: [the phrase] "And Benaiah, etc." and "the Cherethites and the Pelethites" [teaches that] they were constantly dwelling together, for he [Benaiah] was appointed over them to teach them to shoot with the bow and to sling with stones.
They were priests. This means that they were chiefs and officers, and in Chronicles (ibid., verse 17) it is stated: "And the sons of David were the chief officials at the king's side." Or one might say: "And Benaiah... and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David," all of them were officers of the king, subject to his command in everything he ordered, and they did not have distinct roles, unlike those mentioned before them.
Metzudat Zion
Priests. Meaning: leaders and officers.
Cross-references: II Samuel 20:23; I Chronicles 18:17
Rashi
Radak
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim