TRV
Translation
King James Version
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Complete Jewish Bible
David took the gold shields which Hadad'ezer's servants were wearing and brought them to Yerushalayim.
Berean Standard Bible
And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
American Standard Version
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
World English Bible Messianic
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Dauid tooke the shieldes of gold that beloged to the seruants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Ierusalem.
Young's Literal Translation
and David taketh the shields of gold which were on the servants of Hadadezer, and bringeth them to Jerusalem;
See also
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 8,217 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Samuel 8 verses 1–8
1 ¶ And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
God had given David rest from all his enemies that opposed him and made head against him; and he having made a good use of that rest, has now commission given him to make war upon them, and to act offensively for the avenging of Israel's quarrels and the recovery of their rights; for as yet they were not in full possession of that country to which by the promise of God they were entitled.
I. He quite subdued the Philistines, Sa2 8:1. They had attacked him when they thought him weak (Sa2 5:17), and went by the worst then; but, when he found himself strong, he attacked them, and made himself master of their country. They had long been vexatious and oppressive to Israel. Saul got no ground against them; but David completed Israel's deliverance out of their hands, which Samson had begun long before, Jdg 13:5. Metheg-ammah was Gath (the chief and royal city of the Philistines) and the towns belonging to it, among which there was a constant garrison kept by the Philistines on the hill Ammah (Sa2 2:24), which was Metheg, a bridle (so it signifies) or curb upon the people of Israel; this David took out of their hand and used it as a curb upon them. Thus, when the strong man is disarmed, the armour wherein he trusted is taken from him, and used against him, Luk 11:22. And after the long and frequent struggles which the saints have had with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son of David shall tread them all under their feet and make the saints more than conquerors.
II. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel, Sa2 8:2. He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed, casting down the strong-holds, and putting all to the sword; the third part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Dr. Lightfoot says, "He laid them on the ground and measured them with a cord, who should be slain and who should live;" and this is called meting out the valley of Succoth, Psa 60:6. The Jews say he used this severity with the Moabites because they had slain his parents and brethren, whom he put under the protection of the king of Moab during his exile, Sa1 22:3, Sa1 22:4. He did it in justice, because they had been dangerous enemies to the Israel of God; and in policy, because, if left in their strength, they still would have been so. But observe, Though it was necessary that two-thirds should be cut off, yet the line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Be sure to give that length enough; let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost in favorem vitae - so as to favour life. Acts of indemnity must be construed so as to enlarge the favour. Now Balaam's prophecy was fulfilled, A sceptre shall arise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, to the utmost of which the fatal line extended, Num 24:17. The Moabites continued tributaries to Israel till after the death of Ahab, Kg2 3:4, Kg2 3:5. Then they rebelled and were never reduced.
III. He smote the Syrians or Aramites. Of them there were two distinct kingdoms, as we find them spoken of in the title of the 60th Psalm: Aram Naharaim, - Syria of the rivers, whose head city was Damascus (famed for its rivers, Kg2 5:12), and Aram Zobah, which joined to it, but extended to Euphrates. These were the two northern crowns. 1. David began with the Syrians of Zobah, Sa2 8:3, Sa2 8:4. As he went to settle his border at the river Euphrates (for so far the land conveyed by the divine grant to Abraham and his seed did extend, Gen 15:18), the king of Zobah opposed him, being himself possessed of those countries which belonged to Israel; but David routed his forces, and took his chariots and horsemen. The horsemen are here said to be 700, but Ch1 18:4 they are said to be 7000. If they divided their horse by ten in a company, as it is probable they did, the captains and companies were 700, but the horsemen were 7000. David houghed the horses, cut the sinews of their hams, and so lamed them, and made them unserviceable, at least in war, God having forbidden them to multiply horses, Deu 17:16. David reserved only 100 chariots out of 1000 for his own use: for he placed his strength not in chariots nor horses, but in the living God (Psa 20:7), and wrote it from his own observation that a horse is a vain thing for safety, Psa 33:16, Psa 33:17. 2. The Syrians of Damascus coming in to the relief of the king of Zobah fell with him. 22,000 were slain in the field, Sa2 8:5. So that it was easy for David to make himself master of the country, and garrison it for himself, Sa2 8:6. The enemies of God's church, that think to secure themselves, will prove, in the end, to ruin themselves, by their confederacies with each other. Associate yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces, Isa 8:9.
IV. In all these wars, 1. David was protected: The Lord preserved him whithersoever he went. It seems, he went in person, and, in the cause of God and Israel, jeoparded his own life in the high places of the field; but God covered his head in the day of battle, which he often speaks of, in his psalms, to the glory of God. 2. He was enriched. He took the shields of gold which the servants of Hadadezer had in their custody (Sa2 8:7) and much brass from several cities of Syria (Sa2 8:8), which he was entitled to, not only jure belli - by the uncontrollable right of the longest sword ("Get it, and take it"); but by commission from heaven, and the ancient entail of these countries on the seed of Abraham.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–8. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying 2 Samuel 8:7 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Second Samuel 8:7 records a pivotal moment in King David's reign, detailing his acquisition of valuable gold shields from the defeated Aramean king Hadadezer of Zobah, and their subsequent transport to Jerusalem. This act not only signifies David's decisive military victory and the immense wealth accrued by Israel under his leadership but also underscores the transfer of power and prestige from a formidable regional adversary to the nascent Israelite kingdom, further solidifying Jerusalem's status as the nation's political and religious capital and a repository for dedicated spoils of war.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several impactful literary devices. Symbolism is paramount, with the "shields of gold" serving as powerful symbols. They represent not just material wealth but also the military might, prestige, and royal authority of Hadadezer, which are now decisively transferred to David. Their capture symbolizes the complete subjugation of Zobah. The act of bringing them to Jerusalem further symbolizes the centralization of power and the establishment of God's chosen city as the preeminent hub of the kingdom. There is also an element of Narrative Economy, where a concise statement conveys a wealth of information about the outcome of a major conflict, the transfer of power, and the subsequent enrichment and consolidation of David's kingdom. The specificity of "shields of gold" also creates vivid Imagery, allowing the reader to visualize the opulence of the defeated kingdom and the tangible nature of David's victory.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The capture of Hadadezer's gold shields and their dedication to Jerusalem is a profound theological statement about God's sovereignty over nations and His active role in establishing and blessing His chosen king. David's victories are consistently presented not as mere military prowess but as divine enablement, demonstrating that the Lord fights for His people and grants victory to those who walk in His ways. This transfer of wealth from a pagan king to the treasury of Israel, destined for God's sanctuary, illustrates the principle that all earthly resources ultimately belong to God and can be consecrated for His purposes. It foreshadows the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom, where the "wealth of the nations" will be brought into the New Jerusalem, serving the glory of God.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of David taking the gold shields of Hadadezer reminds us that God is sovereign over all earthly powers and that He orchestrates events to fulfill His divine purposes. Just as He granted David victory and provided abundant resources, He continues to empower His people to overcome spiritual challenges and provides what is needed for His kingdom's advancement. This narrative calls us to reflect on our own "spoils"—our talents, resources, time, and influence—and how we are stewarding them. David did not hoard these valuable items for personal gain but dedicated them for the Lord's service, particularly for the future Temple. This teaches us the profound importance of consecrating our blessings to God's glory and the advancement of His kingdom, recognizing that true prosperity lies not in accumulation but in faithful stewardship and generosity. Our victories, whether personal or corporate, should always lead us to acknowledge God's hand and to dedicate the "spoils" for His praise and purposes, contributing to the building of His spiritual house.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was the significance of "shields of gold" in ancient warfare or culture?
Answer: In the ancient Near East, "shields of gold" were highly symbolic and valuable items, typically not used for active combat due to their weight and precious material. Instead, they were likely ceremonial or decorative, signifying immense wealth, royal prestige, and military might. They might have been carried by elite bodyguards or displayed in royal treasuries as a testament to a king's power and opulence. Their capture by David was a profound symbolic act, demonstrating the complete subjugation of Hadadezer and the transfer of his kingdom's glory and resources to Israel. This is similar to how Solomon later made 200 large shields of beaten gold for the House of the Forest of Lebanon, purely for display and prestige.
Why were these spoils brought specifically to Jerusalem?
Answer: Bringing the spoils to Jerusalem served multiple critical purposes. Firstly, it solidified Jerusalem's status as the political capital and center of David's kingdom. It was the seat of power where the kingdom's wealth and symbols of victory were gathered. Secondly, and most importantly, 2 Samuel 8:11 reveals that David dedicated these spoils, along with other captured treasures, to the Lord. These resources were intended for the future building and furnishing of the Temple, which David's son Solomon would eventually construct in Jerusalem. This act underscored David's piety and his role as a preparer for God's dwelling place, transforming symbols of earthly conquest into resources for divine worship and national spiritual identity.
Who was Hadadezer, and why was his defeat so significant?
Answer: Hadadezer was the powerful king of Zobah, a prominent Aramean kingdom located in what is modern-day Syria. His realm controlled crucial trade routes and exerted significant influence in the region. His defeat was highly significant because it eliminated a major rival to Israel's regional dominance, allowing David to extend his influence and secure his borders to the Euphrates River. This victory not only brought vast material wealth to Israel but also established David as the preeminent ruler in the Levant, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham regarding the extent of Israel's territory.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of David's decisive victory over Hadadezer and the acquisition of the gold shields, destined for Jerusalem and the future Temple, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. David, as a type of Christ, conquers formidable foes and brings their wealth into the holy city, preparing for God's dwelling place. Similarly, Christ, the true King of Kings, has achieved a far greater victory over the ultimate enemies: sin, death, and the powers of darkness. He did not take material spoils but gathered a spiritual inheritance—a redeemed people—who are themselves the "spoils" of His victory, brought into His eternal kingdom. Just as the gold shields were brought to earthly Jerusalem for the Temple, believers are now living stones being built into a spiritual house, a new Jerusalem not made with hands. The wealth of the nations, symbolized by the gold, will ultimately be brought into the New Jerusalem to glorify God, demonstrating that Christ's victory is comprehensive, eternal, and establishes a kingdom that will never end, far surpassing David's earthly dominion.