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<p>Here is, 1. The court made to David by the king of Hamath, who, it seems was at this time at war with the king of Zobah. He hearing of David’s success against his enemy, sent his own son ambassador to him (<a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.9,2Sam.8.10" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.8.9,2Sam.8.10"><span class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.9">2 Sam. 8:9</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.10">10</span></a>), to congratulate him on his victory, to return him thanks for the favour he had done him in breaking the power of one he was in fear of, and to beg his friendship. Thus he not only secured but strengthened himself. And David lost nothing by taking this little prince under his protection, any more than the old Romans did by the like policy; for the wealth he had from the countries he conquered by way of spoil he had from this by way of present or gratuity: <i>Vessels of silver and gold</i>. Better get by composition than by compulsion. 2. The offering David made to God of the spoils of the nations and all the rich things that were brought him. He dedicated all to the Lord, <a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.11,2Sam.8.12" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.8.11,2Sam.8.12"><span class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.11">2 Sam. 8:11</span>, <span class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.12">12</span></a>. This crowned all his victories, and made them far to out-shine Alexander’s or Caesar’s, that they sought their own glory, but he aimed at the glory of God. All the precious things he was master of were dedicated things, that is, they were designed for the building of the temple; and a good omen it was of kindness to the Gentiles in the fulness of time, and of the making of God’s house a house of prayer for all people, that the temple was built of the spoils and presents of Gentile nations, in allusion to which we find <i>the kings of the earth</i> bringing <i>their glory and honour into the new Jerusalem</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Rev.21.24" href="/passage/?search=Rev.21.24">Rev. 21:24</a>. Their gods of gold David burnt (<a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.5.21" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.5.21">2 Sam. 5:21</a>), but their vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus in the conquest of a soul, by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated and the property of it altered. Even the merchandise and the hire must be <i>holiness to the Lord</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Isa.23.18" href="/passage/?search=Isa.23.18">Isa. 23:18</a>), the gain <i>consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Mic.4.13" href="/passage/?search=Mic.4.13">Mic. 4:13</a>), and then it is truly our own and that most comfortably. 3. The reputation he got, in a particular manner, by his victory over the Syrians and their allies the Edomites, who acted in conjunction with them, as appears by comparing the title of the 60<sup>th</sup> Psalm, which was penned on this occasion, with <a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.13" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.8.13">2 Sam. 8:13</a>. <i>He got himself a name</i> for all that conduct and courage which are the praise of a great and distinguished general. Something extraordinary, it is likely, there was in that action, which turned very much to his honour, yet he is careful to transfer the honour to God, as appears by the psalm he penned on this occasion, <a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.12" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.8.12">2 Sam. 8:12</a>. It is through God that we do valiantly. 4. His success against the Edomites. They all became David’s servants, <a class="bibleref" title="2Sam.8.14" href="/passage/?search=2Sam.8.14">2 Sam. 8:14</a>. Now, and not till now, Isaac’s blessing was accomplished, by which Jacob was made Esau’s Lord (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.27.37-Gen.27.40" href="/passage/?search=Gen.27.37-Gen.27.40">Gen. 27:37-40</a>) and the Edomites continued long tributary to the kings of Judah, as the Moabites were to the kings of Israel, till, in Joram’s time, they revolted (<a clas
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