2 Samuel 8:16

16 Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah was over the host; and Yehoshafat the son of Achilud was recorder;

2 Samuel 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 8:16

And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host
Which was not only owing to his relation to David, being his sister's son, but to his promise that whoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain; that is, should have the command of the army under him; this Joab did; and so was entitled to this office, and was put into it, and continued in it, ( 1 Chronicles 11:6 ) ;

and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder;
of memorable events, who kept a diary of whatsoever remarkable happened, which were digested into a chronicle, history, or annals; see ( Esther 6:1 ) ; so the Targum, he

``was appointed over the memorials;''

or book of memorials, as Kimchi interprets it; that is, to take care of it, and see that everything worthy of notice was inserted in it; or was "remembrancer" ^F7; one that put the king in mind what was to be done every day, or in certain cases, and so R. Isaiah explains it, the king's counsellor; some take him to be chancellor, as Luther and others {h}.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (rykzm) "commemorans", Montanus; "commemorator", Syr. Ar. "memorans, sive reducens in memoriam", Vatablus.
F8 Vid. Beckium in Targ. 1 Chron. xviii. 15.

2 Samuel 8:16 In-Context

14 He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edom became servants to David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

15 David reigned over all Yisra'el; and David executed justice and righteousness to all his people.

16 Yo'av the son of Tzeru'yah was over the host; and Yehoshafat the son of Achilud was recorder;

17 and Tzadok the son of Achituv, and Achimelekh the son of Avyatar, were Kohanim; and Serayah was Sofer;

18 and Benayah the son of Yehoiada [was over] the Kereti and the Peleti; and David's sons were chief ministers.