John Gill Commentary 2 Samuel 8:6

"Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went." — 2 Samuel 8:6 (ASV)

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus
Which was Coele-Syria, and lay between Libanus and Antilibanus, the chief city of which was Damascus; which Curtius ^F17 calls Damascus of Syria, being the head of it, (Isaiah 7:8) ; in the principal places of which he put garrisons of soldiers to keep the country in subjection to him; or he put commanders or governors, as the Targum, in the chief cities, and so Ben Gersom and R. Isaiah interpret it:

and the Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts ;
or paid him tribute by way of homage, acknowledging themselves his subjects:

and the Lord preserved David wherever he went ;
he covered his head in the day of battle, and saved him from the hurtful sword.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F17: Hist. l. 3. c. 8.