2 Samuel 8:5

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

And when the Syrians {H758} of Damascus {H1834} came {H935} to succour {H5826} Hadadezer {H1909} king {H4428} of Zobah {H6678}, David {H1732} slew {H5221} of the Syrians {H758} two {H8147} and twenty {H6242} thousand {H505} men {H376}.

When people of Aram from Dammesek came to the aid of Hadad'ezer king of Tzovah, David killed 22,000 men of Aram.

When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Commentary

Historical and Cultural Context

2 Samuel 8:5 is situated within the broader narrative of King David's consolidation of power and expansion of the Israelite kingdom following his establishment in Jerusalem. This chapter details David's significant military victories over surrounding nations, demonstrating God's blessing and fulfilling His promises. Prior to this verse, David had already engaged Hadadezer, king of Zobah, a powerful Aramean (Syrian) kingdom to Israel's northeast. The Syrians of Damascus, another prominent Aramean state, came to Hadadezer's aid, indicating a regional alliance against David's growing influence. This conflict highlights the intense geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, where military might and strategic alliances dictated regional control.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Empowerment: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the preceding and subsequent verses (e.g., 2 Samuel 8:6) clearly attribute David's overwhelming victories to the LORD's preservation and help. This verse underscores the theme that God was fighting for David and Israel.
  • David's Dominance: The decisive defeat of 22,000 Syrian soldiers from Damascus, a major regional power, cemented David's military supremacy and established his kingdom as a formidable force in the Levant. This victory was crucial for expanding the borders of Israel.
  • Consequences of Opposition: Those who rose against God's chosen king, David, faced severe and devastating consequences, illustrating the futility of opposing God's plan and His anointed.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: David's conquests, including this victory over the Syrians, contributed to the expansion of Israel's territory, moving towards the fulfillment of the land promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18) and subsequent generations.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "succour" is an archaic term meaning to give aid, help, or relief. The Hebrew word translated here is 'azar (Χ’ΦΈΧ–Φ·Χ¨), which means "to help" or "to support." This indicates that the Damascene Syrians came as reinforcements to assist Hadadezer, who was already engaged with David's forces. The phrase "slew of the Syrians" uses the Hebrew verb nakah (Χ ΦΈΧ›ΦΈΧ”), which often implies a decisive strike or smiting, emphasizing the complete and devastating nature of David's victory.

Practical Application

This verse, viewed through the lens of God's overarching plan, reminds us that:

  • God's Presence in Conflict: Just as God preserved and empowered David in his battles, believers can find strength and victory in challenges when aligned with God's will. Our battles, whether spiritual or practical, are not fought alone.
  • Overcoming Obstacles: The formidable opposition David faced did not deter him, and with God's help, he overcame. This encourages perseverance and faith when confronting seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life.
  • Divine Sovereignty: God's purposes will ultimately prevail, even when faced with strong opposition. David's victories were part of a larger divine plan to establish his kingdom and secure the lineage through which the Messiah would come.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 11:23

    And God stirred him up [another] adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

  • 1 Kings 11:25

    And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

  • Isaiah 8:9

    ΒΆ Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

  • Isaiah 8:10

    Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God [is] with us.

  • Isaiah 31:3

    Now the Egyptians [are] men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

  • Psalms 83:4

    They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from [being] a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

  • Psalms 83:8

    Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
← Back