2 Samuel 8:8-18

8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^[a] and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities.

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

10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him.

11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued-

12 from Edom,^[b] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites^[c] in the Valley of Salt.^[d]

14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^[e]

15 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary;

18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada [was over] the Cherethites and the Pelethites;^[f] and David's sons were chief officials.^[g][h]

2 Samuel 8:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a] Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah
• [b] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; MT reads Aram; 1 Ch 18:11
• [c] A few Hb mss, LXX, Syr; MT reads Arameans; 1 Ch 18:12
• [d] the Dead Sea region
• [e] 1 Ch 18:1-12
• [f] 2 Sm 23:23
• [g] LXX; MT reads were priests; 1 Ch 18:17
• [h] 1 Ch 18:14-17