2 Samuel 6:18

And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Peace offerings.—While the “burnt offerings” were dedicatory, the peace offerings were eucharistic, and were also intended here, as in 1Kings 8:62-65, to supply the wants of the people by a religious feast of communion with God.

He blessed the people.—As Solomon did at the dedication of the temple (1Kings 8:14; 1Kings 8:55), and in both cases this was eminently fitting; but such blessing is by no means to be mistaken for the peculiar priestly blessing for which the form was prescribed in Numbers 6:22-26.

Benson Commentary

2 Samuel 6:18-19. He blessed the people — That is, he heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them; which he did both as a prophet and as their king, to whom by office it belonged by all means to seek his people’s welfare. He also pronounced them blessed in God’s name. So all the people departed, every one to his house — Or rather, to his tent, pitched in or near Jerusalem on this occasion.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:12-19 It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Corner-stone, elect, precious, 1Pe 2:6-8. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbours. David, at first setting out, offered sacrifices to God. We are likely to speed in our enterprises, when we begin with God, and give diligence to seek peace with him. And we are so unworthy, and our services are so defiled, that all our joy in God must be connected with repentance and faith in the Redeemer's atoning blood. David attended with high expressions of joy. We ought to serve God with our whole body and soul, and with every endowment and power we possess. On this occasion David laid aside his royal robes, and put on a plain linen dress. David prayed with and for the people, and as a prophet, solemnly blessed them in the name of the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He blessed the people - So did Solomon 1 Kings 8:14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. he blessed the people—in the double character of prophet and king (see 1Ki 8:55, 56). [See on [266]1Ch 16:2.]

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He blessed the people, i.e. he heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them; which he did both as prophet and as their king, to whom by office it belongs, by all means, to seek his people’s welfare.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings,.... Or these were performed according to his order:

he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts; not as a priest, but as a prince, as the common father of them, wishing them all happiness and prosperity outward and inward, praying to God to bless them with all blessings temporal and spiritual, who is the God of armies above and below, and can do what he pleases, and more than his people can ask or think.

Geneva Study Bible

And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. burnt offerings and peace offerings] The “burnt offerings” were dedicatory, the “peace offerings” eucharistic. The latter furnished the festival meal for the assembled people (Leviticus 7:15). Compare Solomon’s sacrifices at the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:62-65).

he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts] As Solomon did (1 Kings 8:14; 1 Kings 8:55). “The name of the Lord” signifies “Jehovah as He has revealed Himself to men,” and “to bless in the name of the Lord” signifies ‘to invoke from Jehovah such blessings as He covenants to give in accordance with His revelation of Himself.’ Cp. Psalm 129:8.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - David... blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. Blessing the people was an important priestly function, for which a special formula was provided (Numbers 6:22-26). But this did not deprive the king, who was Jehovah's anointed representative, of the right of also blessing them, and Solomon, at the consecration of the temple, followed his father's example in a very solemn manner (2 Chronicles 6:3). 2 Samuel 6:18

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When the offering of sacrifice was over, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord, as Solomon did afterwards at the dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:55), and gave to all the (assembled) people, both men and women, to every one a slice of bread, a measure (of wine), and a cake for a festal meal, i.e., for the sacrificial meal, which was celebrated with the shelamim after the offering of the sacrifices, and after the king had concluded the liturgical festival with a benediction. לחם חלּת is a round cake of bread, baked for sacrificial meals, and synonymous with כּכּר־לחם (1 Chronicles 16:3), as we may see from a comparison of Exodus 29:23 with Leviticus 8:26 (see the commentary on Leviticus 8:2). But the meaning of the ἁπ. λεγ. אשׁפּר is uncertain, and has been much disputed. Most of the Rabbins understand it as signifying a piece of flesh or roast meat, deriving the word from אשׁ and פּר; but this is certainly false. There is more to be said in favour of the derivation proposed by L. de Dieu, viz., from the Ethiopic שׁפר, netiri, from which Gesenius and Roediger (Ges. Thes. p. 1470) have drawn their explanation of the word as signifying a measure of wine or other beverage. For אשׁישׁה, the meaning grape-cake or raisin-cake is established by Son of Sol 2:5 and Hosea 3:1 (vid., Hengstenberg, Christol. on Hosea 3:1). The people returned home after the festal meal.