2 Samuel 15:18

“And all his servants passed on beside him, etc.] Or at his hand or side; his household servants walking perhaps some on one side of him, and some on the other, (see <101606>2 Samuel 16:6); and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites; which were his bodyguards, (see <100818>2 Samuel 8:18); and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath; which either came with him from Gath, when he conquered that city, and took it out of the hands of the Philistines, (<100801>2 Samuel 8:1); compared with (<131801>1 Chronicles 18:1); and who might become proselytes, and be incorporated into the commonwealth of Israel, and into David’s army, a troop of men, of which Ittai, after…”

“all the Gittites, six hundred men--These were a body of foreign guards, natives of Gath, whom David, when in the country of the Philistines, had enlisted in his service, and kept around his person. Addressing their commander, Ittai, he made a searching trial of their fidelity in bidding them (Sa2 15:19) abide with the new king.”

“Passed on - Rather, “crossed” the Brook Kidron, as in 2 Samuel 15:22-23. Gittites - During David’s residence in the country of the Philistines he attached such a band to himself; and after the settlement of his kingdom, and the subjugation of the Philistines, the band received recruits from Gath, perhaps with the king of Gath’s consent. They were now under the command of Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner 2 Samuel 15:19, and “his brethren” 2 Samuel 15:20. The number 600 probably indicates that this band or regiment of Gittites had its origin in David’s band of 600 1 Samuel 23:13; 1 Samuel 27:2. They were at first, it is likely, all Israelites, then Gittites mixed with Israelites, and at last all…”

“Gittites - Or rather strangers, as Ittai their head is called, Sa2 15:19, and they are called his brethren, Sa2 15:20. Probably they were Philistines by birth, born in the city or territory of Gath, as the following words imply, who by David's counsel, and example, were won to embrace the true religion, and had given good proof of their military skill, and valour, and fidelity to the king. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:19”

“15:18 600 men from Gath: This alliance went back to David’s relationship with the Philistines in Saul’s day (1 Sam 21:10-15; 27:1-12; 29:1-11). • the king’s bodyguard: See study note on 2 Sam 8:18.”

“Cherethites: Sa2 8:18, Sa2 20:7, Sa2 20:23; Sa1 30:14; Kg1 1:38; Ch1 18:17 Gittites: Sa2 15:19-22, Sa2 6:10, Sa2 18:2; Sa1 27:3 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 15:19”

“And all his servants, i.e., his state officers and attendants, went along by his side, and the whole body-guard (the Crethi and Plethi: see at Sa2 8:18); and all the Gathites, namely the six hundred men who had come in his train from Gath, went along in front of the king. David directed the fugitives to all into rank, the servants going by his side, and the body-guard and the six hundred old companions in arms, who probably also formed a kind of body-guard, marching in front. The verb עבר (passed on) cannot be understood as signifying to file past on account of its connection with על־ידו (beside him, or by his side). The expression Gittim is strange, as we cannot possibly think of actual…”