Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord. Eastern princes have always been accustomed to hoard up vast quantities of gold (see Layard, 'Nineveh and its Remains,' 2:, p. 344). This is the first instance of a practice uniformly followed by David, of reserving, after defraying expenses, mid bestowing suitable rewards upon his soldiers, the remainder of the spoil taken in war, to accumulate for the grand project of his life-the erection of a national temple at Jerusalem.
All nations which he subdued - i:e., on the east and north of Palestine. The former comprised Amalek, Edom, Moab, and Ammon. 'The main object of David's campaign on the east of the Jordan would be to reduce the fortresses on the frequent heights (Ramoth) of Gilead, and in the rocky fortresses of the Lejah' (Porter's 'Damascus,' 2:, p. 240). 'Some of these were held by the old occupants of the country, on whose territory the Israelites were established; and they were the sources of constant danger and anxiety to the eastern tribes. These intrenched foes of the Hebrews were dislodged and subjugated. And now, garrisoned by the troops of the mighty conqueror, each fortress became the means of confirming and extending his dominions' (Drew's 'Scripture Lands,' pp. 138, 139). Thus, by the conquests of David, the Hebrews had acquired territories equal to the boundaries of the promised land, and affording all the means for accomplishing the great work assigned them. The kingdom of Israel, as now extended, comprised, besides Palestine proper, the various northern states comprehended in the beautiful and wealthy country called by the general name of Aram (Syria), where the Zobahites ruled, as far as the Euphrates; all the region east of the Jordan; the woodlands of Gilead, the fertile plains of the Hauran, and the abundant pasturage of Bashan-all north and west from Hermon, and all east from the loftiest peaks of the Hanran; all the country southeast, especially the Edomite territory, including the command of the eastern harbour of the Red Sea, and the whole line of caravan roads into Arabia, and all the Paran wilds, by which they held the avenues to Egypt, and could control the land commerce between that country and Phoenicia; in short, from Carchemish and Damascus to Elath, and the frontier of Philistia; in other words, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.