After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 1. Tribute. Aquila, and probably S. Jerom, translated, “cubit.” Others suppose that Amma, or Meteg-ama, is some unknown place, which David wrested from the hands of the Philistines. It is hardly probable that the Israelites would have paid the latter tribute till the 20th year of his reign, ( Calmet.) or even till the 12th. Salien.—He might now force them to pay tribute. S. Jerom, and so forth Bible.—Perhaps a letter may have been transposed, and instead of Meteg, we should read, “Geth, the mother,” or metropolis, and its dependencies; (1 Chronicles 18:1) or “he took Metec, (Numbers 33:28) and its mother,” Geth, which reconciles the two passages. Chald. and so forth “he deprived them of the advantage of the rivulet.” Septuagint “David took the separated” place, (Serar.) or the city of Geth. Menochius.