The campaigns (except perhaps that against Moab) seem to be narrated in chronological order. David first makes sure of his most pressing enemy the Philistines (verse 1); then feeling safe towards the south-west he turns towards the north-east secure on the Euphrates (but see note verse 3) a station (valuable for trade) held by the Syrians of Zobah (verse 3); the Syrians of Damascus fearing to be excluded from the River by David’s success come to the help of their kinsmen (verse 5); lastly the Edomites, urged perhaps by the Syrians to make a diversion in their favour and thinking it safe to attack Judah during the absence of David, join in the war, but are signally defeated by a detachment under Joab and Abishai (verse 12). The war with Moab (verse 2) is surprising, if it took place at an early date in David’s reign, for he seems to have been on specially friendly terms with the king of Moab during his exile; compare 1 Samuel xxii. 3, 4 and Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel viii. 2. =1‒13= (= 2 Samuel viii. 1‒14). A SUMMARY OF DAVID’S FOREIGN WARS. ¹And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines. =1.= _after this_] The phrase is adopted from 2 Samuel viii. 1 and probably came originally from a still earlier book of annals, in which the context may have been different. We cannot therefore say at what period of David’s reign the conquest of Gath took place. _took Gath and her towns_] It is impossible to say for certain whether this is the original text or only an interpretation of the obscure reading in 2 Samuel viii. 1, _took the bridle of the mother city_ (Revised Version). ²And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought presents. =2.= _smote Moab_] The Chronicler at this point omits, as he often omits, some difficult words of Samuel. 2 Samuel viii. 2 seems to say that David put two-thirds of the Moabites (presumably the warriors) to death, but the meaning of the verse is uncertain. _brought presents_] i.e. tribute, in acknowledgment of David’s superiority. The same Hebrew phrase (translated “bring an offering”) is used Psalms xcvi. 8 of sacrificing to Jehovah. ³And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto¹ Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. ¹ Or, _by_. =3.= _Hadarezer_] So spelt in 2 Samuel x. 16‒19, but in 2 Samuel viii. 3‒12, _Hadadezer_, the right form (as inscriptions show). _Zobah unto Hamath_] Render as margin =Zobah by Hamath=, the position of Zobah being fixed by the note that it was near Hamath. _Hamath_] The modern _Hama_ on the Orontes, midway between Antioch and Damascus, but somewhat further to the east than either. See below verse 9; also xiii. 5 and 2 Chronicles viii. 3.