2 Samuel 8

David's Triumphs

1 ¹Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

2 ²He defeated ³Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And ⁴the Moabites became servants to David, ⁵bringing tribute.

3 Then David defeated ⁶Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as ⁷he went to restore his rule at the River.

4 David captured from him 1,700 * * horsemen and 20,000 * foot soldiers *; and David ⁸hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.

5 When ⁹the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 * * Arameans.

6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and ¹⁰the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And ¹¹the LORD helped David wherever * he went.

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

8 From Betah and from ¹²Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

9 Now when Toi king of ¹³Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,

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

11 King David also ¹⁴dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued:

12 from Aram and ¹⁵Moab and ¹⁶the sons of Ammon and ¹⁷the Philistines and ¹⁸Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 So ¹⁹David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 * * Arameans in ²⁰the Valley of Salt.

14 He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and ²¹all the Edomites became servants to David. And ²²the LORD helped David wherever * he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

16 ²³Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and ²⁴Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was ²⁵recorder.

17 ²⁶Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were ²⁷priests, and Seraiah was ²⁸secretary.

18 ²⁹Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the ³⁰Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were ³¹chief ministers.

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. 1 Chronicles 18
• 2. Numbers 24:17
• 3. 1 Samuel 22:3, 4
• 4. 2 Samuel 8:6; 1 Kings 4:21
• 5. 2 Kings 3:4; 2 Kings 17:3
• 6. 1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 10:16, 19
• 7. 2 Samuel 10:15-19
• 8. Joshua 11:6, 9
• 9. 1 Kings 11:23-25
• 10. 2 Samuel 8:2
• 11. 2 Samuel 3:18
• 12. Ezekiel 47:16
• 13. 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Chronicles 8:4
• 14. 1 Kings 7:51
• 15. 2 Samuel 8:2
• 16. 2 Samuel 10:14
• 17. 2 Samuel 5:17-25
• 18. 1 Samuel 27:8; 1 Samuel 30:17-20
• 19. 2 Samuel 7:9
• 20. 2 Kings 14:7
• 21. Genesis 27:37-40; Numbers 24:17, 18
• 22. 2 Samuel 8:6
• 23. 1 Chronicles 11:6
• 24. 1 Kings 4:3
• 25. 2 Kings 18:18, 37
• 26. 1 Chronicles 6:4-8
• 27. 1 Chronicles 16:39, 40
• 28. 2 Kings 18:18
• 29. 1 Kings 4:4
• 30. 1 Samuel 30:14; 2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7, 23; 1 Kings 1:38, 44
• 31. 1 Chronicles 18:17

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "smote"
• [b]. Lit "the bridle of the mother city"
• [c]. Lit "smote"
• [d]. Lit "smote"
• [e]. Lit "hand"
• [f]. I.e. Euphrates
• [g]. Lit "smote"
• [h]. Lit "on"
• [i]. In 1 Chr 18:8, "Tibhath"
• [j]. Lit "smitten"
• [k]. In 1 Chr 18:10, "Hadoram"
• [l]. Lit "ask him of his welfare"
• [m]. Lit "smitten"
• [n]. Lit "was a man of wars"
• [o]. Lit "there were in his hand"
• [p]. Some mss read "Edom"
• [q]. Lit "smiting"
• [r]. Some mss read "Edom"
• [s]. Lit "was doing"
• [t]. Lit "and the Cherethites"
• [u]. Lit "priests"

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.