(17) Came upon them.--Samuel, "came to Helam." The chronicler seems to have substituted an intelligible phrase for the name of an unknown locality. Professor Sayce has suggested to the writer that this mysterious Helam is no other than Aleppo, the Halman of the Assyrian monuments.

Upon them . . . against them.--Literally, unto them ('alehem). The Hebrew term, "to Helam" (Helamah), contains the same consonants as this prepositional phrase, with one extra. Perhaps, however, the term Helamah was understood as a common noun implying to their army (hayil, hel, army).

So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians.--Literally, And David set the battle, &c., a needless repetition of the last clause. Probably Samuel is right: "And Aram put the battle in array against David."

Verse 17. - Came upon them. The reading of the parallel passage is probably correct, i.e. they "came to Helam," inasmuch as the place is repeated, both in ver. 16 and ver. 17. Nothing else, however, is known of Helam. The Septuagint has Αἱλάμ.

19:1-19 David's wars. - The history is here repeated which we read 2Sa 10. The only safety of sinners consists in submitting to the Lord, seeking peace with him, and becoming his servants. Let us assist each other in a good cause; but let us fear lest, while made instruments of good to others, we should come short of salvation, through unbelief and sin.See Chapter Introduction