Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 10:15–end
Here is, 1. A new attempt of the Syrians to recover their lost honour and to check the progress of David's victorious arms. The forces that were lately dispersed rallied again, and gathered themselves together, Sa2 10:15. Even the baffled cause will make head as long as there is any life in it; the enemies of the Son of David do so, Matt, Sa2 22:34; Rev 19:19. These, being conscious of their insufficiency, called in the aid of their allies and dependencies on the other side of the river (Sa2 10:16), and, being thus recruited, they hoped to make their part good against Israel, but they knew not the thoughts of the Lord, for he gathered them as sheaves into the floor; see Mic 4:11-13. 2. The d…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 10:16
THE SYRIANS DEFEATED. (Sa2 10:15-19)
Hadarezer sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river--This prince had enjoyed a breathing time after his defeat (Sa2 8:3). But alarmed at the increasing power and greatness of David, as well as being an ally of the Ammonites, he levied a vast army not only in Syria, but in Mesopotamia, to invade the Hebrew kingdom. Shobach, his general, in pursuance of this design, had marched his troops as far as Kelam, a border town of eastern Manasseh, when David, crossing the Jordan by forced marches, suddenly surprised, defeated, and dispersed them. As a result of this great and decisive victory, all the petty kingdoms of Syria submitted and became…
Read the whole note in the consoleAdam Clarke on 2 Samuel 10:17
David - gathered all Israel together - He thought that such a war required his own presence.
John Gill on 2 Samuel 10:17
And when it was told David,.... What preparations the Syrians were making to fight him, and where they were:
he gathered all Israel together; all the fighting men in the country:
and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam: which, according to Bunting (b), was twenty miles from Jerusalem. David seems to have gone himself in person to this war:
and the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him; they formed themselves in a line of battle, and attacked him first, being eager to fight, and perhaps confident of victory, because of their numbers.
(b) Travels, &c. p. 140, 141.
