2 Samuel 8

David's Victories

1 ¹After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took ²Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 ³And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites ⁴became servants to David and ⁵brought tribute.

3 David also defeated ⁶Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ⁷Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates.

4 ⁸And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David ⁹hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots.

5 ¹⁰And when the ¹¹Syrians of Damascus came to help ¹²Hadadezer king of ¹³Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians.

6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians ¹⁴became servants to David and brought tribute. ¹⁵And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

7 And David took ¹⁶the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

9 When Toi king of ¹⁷Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer,

10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze.

11 ¹⁸These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued,

12 from Edom, ¹⁹Moab, ²⁰the Ammonites, ²¹the Philistines, ²²Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ²³Zobah.

13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in ²⁴the Valley of Salt.

14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, ²⁵and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David's Officials

15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.

16 ²⁶Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and ²⁷Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,

17 and ²⁸Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and ²⁹Seraiah was secretary,

18 and ³⁰Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over^[a] the ³¹Cherethites 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 .

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-18, see 1 Chronicles 18:1-17; Psalms 60
• 2. [1 Chronicles 18:1]
• 3. Numbers 24:17
• 4. ver. 6, 14; [Psalms 60:8]
• 5. [1 Samuel 10:27; 2 Kings 17:3; Psalms 72:10]
• 6. [2 Samuel 10:16, 19; 1 Chronicles 18:3]
• 7. 2 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 14:47; 1 Kings 11:23
• 8. [1 Chronicles 18:4]
• 9. See Joshua 11:6
• 10. [1 Kings 11:23-25]
• 11. See Joshua 11:6
• 12. [See ver. 3 above]
• 13. [See ver. 3 above]
• 14. ver. 2, 14
• 15. ver. 14
• 16. [2 Kings 11:10; 2 Chronicles 23:9; Song of Songs 4:4]
• 17. 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 18:34
• 18. 1 Kings 7:51; 1 Chronicles 26:26
• 19. ver. 2
• 20. 2 Samuel 10:14; 2 Samuel 12:30
• 21. See 2 Samuel 5:17-25
• 22. 1 Samuel 30:20
• 23. [See ver. 3 above]
• 24. 2 Kings 14:7; [Joshua 15:62]
• 25. Genesis 25:23; Genesis 27:29, 37, 40; Numbers 24:18
• 26. For ver. 16-18, see 2 Samuel 20:23-26
• 27. 1 Kings 4:3
• 28. 1 Chronicles 24:3, 6
• 29. [1 Chronicles 18:16]
• 30. 1 Kings 4:4; [2 Samuel 23:20-23]
• 31. 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7; 1 Samuel 30:14; 1 Kings 1:38

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over

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.