Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 8:1-14
CHAPTER X.FOREIGN WARS.2 Samuel 8:1-14.THE transitions of the Bible, like those of actual life, are often singularly abrupt; that which now hurries us from the scene of elevated communion with God to the confused noise and deadly struggles of the battle-field is peculiarly startling. We are called to contemplate David in a remarkable light, as a professional warrior, a man of the sword, a man of blood; wielding the weapons of destruction with all the decision and effect of the most daring... read more
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 8:12
(12) Of Syria.—1 Chronicles 18:11 reads Edom. The two names differing in the original only by one very similar letter (the d and r, which are so often confused), it might be supposed that one was an error for the other, were it not that both were actually conquered and the spoils of both dedicated by David, Syria is spoken of here because Edom has not yet been mentioned, and the account of its conquest is given afterwards (2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 11:15-17); while Edom is given in Chron. because... read more