Verse 2
2. Smote Moab The occasion and details of this war are unknown, though some Jewish writers have conjectured that it was undertaken to retaliate the death or ill-usage of David’s parents. See note on 1 Samuel 22:4. The fearful slaughter to which David put the Moabites shows that they had wantonly provoked his wrath, and that of Israel. The incident related of Benaiah in 2 Samuel 23:20, and 1 Chronicles 11:22, probably occurred at this time.
Measured them with a line A barbarous but convenient method of numbering the captives, and in accordance with the customs and spirit of that age.
Casting them down to the ground Rather, causing them to lie down. They were made to lie down in a row so as to be more conveniently measured with the line.
Two lines… to put to death… one full line to keep alive That is, two thirds were marked off for death, and one full third to be kept alive. “That they might not suffer by the roughness of this mode of marking them out, the line was so drawn as palpably to make the proportion marked off to be spared much the largest of the three thirds, which is doubtless the meaning of the full line to keep alive.” Kitto.
Brought gifts Paid tribute.
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