2 Samuel 8:1-14

David's Victories

1 After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah[a] from Philistine control.[b][c]
2 He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths [of those] to be put to death and one length [of those] to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.
4 David captured 1,700 horsemen[d] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses, and he kept 100 chariots.[e][f]
5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men.
6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.[g]
7 David took the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah[h] 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,[i] 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[j] in the Valley of Salt.[k]
14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.[l]

2 Samuel 8:1-14 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 12

  • [a]. Or took control of the mother city; Hb obscure
  • [b]. LXX reads them, and David took tribute out of the hand of the Philistines
  • [c]. 2 Sm 3:18
  • [d]. LXX, DSS read 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen
  • [e]. Or chariot horses
  • [f]. 1 Ch 18:4
  • [g]. 2 Sm 8:14
  • [h]. Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah
  • [i]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; MT reads Aram; 1 Ch 18:11
  • [j]. A few Hb mss, LXX, Syr; MT reads Arameans; 1 Ch 18:12
  • [k]. the Dead Sea region
  • [l]. 1 Ch 18:1-12
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.