2 Samuel 8

David’s wars

1 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David captured Metheg-ammah from Philistine control.

2 David also defeated the Moabites and made them lie on the ground, measuring them with a rope. He measured two rope lengths for those who were to be killed and one rope length for those who were to be spared. The Moabites became David's subjects and brought him tribute.

3 Next David defeated Zobah's King Hadadezer, Rehob's son, as Hadadezer was on his way to put his monument along the Euphrates River.

4 David captured one thousand chariots, seven hundred charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He cut the hamstrings of all but one hundred of the chariot horses.

5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Zobah's King Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.

6 David set up forts among the Arameans of Damascus. And the Arameans became David's subjects and brought him tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

7 David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 King David also took a large amount of bronze from Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer.

9 When Hamath's King Toi heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

10 he sent his son Joram to King David to wish him well and congratulate him on his battle and defeat of Hadadezer, because Toi was an enemy of Hadadezer. Joram brought silver, gold, and bronze objects with him.

11 King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations that he had subdued:

12 Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, including the plunder of Zobah's King Hadadezer, Rehob's son.

13 So David made a name for himself. When he returned, he killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley.

14 He set up forts in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s administration

15 David ruled over all Israel and maintained justice and righteousness for all his people.

16 Zeruiah's son Joab was in command of the army; Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was recorder;

17 Ahitub's son Zadok and Ahimelech's son Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;

18 Jehoiada's son Benaiah was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.

2 Samuel 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

David subdues the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Syrians. (1-8) The spoil dedicated. (9-14) David's government and officers. (15-18)

1-8. David subdued the Philistines. They had long been troublesome to Israel. And after the long and frequent struggles the saints have with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son of David shall tread them all under foot, and make the saints more than conquerors. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel. Two parts he destroyed, the third part he spared. The line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost. He smote the Syrians. In all these wars David was protected, for this in his psalms he often gives glory to God.

Verses 9-14 All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. ( 2 Samuel. 5:21 ) of gold he dedicated. Thus, in the conquest of a soul by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust must be mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated; thus the property of it is altered. God employs his servants in various ways; some, as David, in spiritual battles; others, as Solomon, in spiritual buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the glory of all.

Verses 15-18 David neither did wrong, nor denied or delayed right to any. This speaks his close application to business; also his readiness to admit all addresses and appeals made to him. He had no respect of persons in judgment. Herein he was a type of Christ. To Him let us submit, his friendship let us seek, his service let us count our pleasure, diligently attending to the work he assigns to each of us. David made his sons chief rulers; but all believers, Christ's spiritual seed, are better preferred, for they are made kings and priests to our God, Re. 1:6 .

Footnotes

• [a]. Or to restore
• [b]. DSS(4QSama), 1 Chron 18:3
• [c]. LXX, DSS(4QSama), 1 Chron 18:4; MT seventeen hundred chariots
• [d]. Some LXX manuscripts and 1 Chron 18:8; MT Betah
• [e]. Or built a monument
• [f]. LXX; MT he returned from killing eighteen thousand Arameans
• [g]. Cf 1 Chron 18:13; MT repeats in all Edom he set up forts.
• [h]. MT Abiathar’s son Ahimelech; cf 1 Sam 22:20; 23:6; 30:7; 2 Sam 20:25
• [i]. Syr, Tg, Vulg, 1 Chron 18:17; MT lacks in command of.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 8

This chapter gives a relation of the wars of David with his enemies, and his victories over them, particularly the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, and of the spoils he took from them, and of the presents made to him by others, 2Sa 8:1-14; and of his righteous administration of government, and of the principal officers in his court and camp, 2Sa 8:15-18.