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2 Samuel 8

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David Subdues Neighboring Nations 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. ​

Tribute and Dedication of Spoils 9–14

9
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10
Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: ​
11
Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; ​
12
Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13
And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. ​
14
And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. ​

David’s Administration and Officials 15–18

15
And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. ​
16
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; ​
18
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Samuel 8

Verse 1

David smote the Philistines, and subdued them — Kana', to bring low, the verb of 'God subdued… Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel' (Judg 4:23). 'After this' follows the LORD's promise through Nathan, 'I… have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight' (2 Sam 7:9). The matching verse says David 'took Gath and her towns' (1 Chr 18:1).

Verse 2

with two lines measured he to put to death — Moab is struck as Balaam had foretold: 'a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab' (Num 24:17). The 'line' is chebel, a measuring cord, and the 'full line' (melo, fullness) is the one kept alive. The Moabites 'brought gifts' (minchah, tribute), as the Syrians do in v.6.

Verse 3

Hadadezer, the son of Rehob — The same king is spelled Hadarezer in 2 Sam 10:16 and 1 Chr 18:3, where he is going 'to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates'. The Euphrates is the limit of the land named in Gen 15:18. Saul had earlier fought 'the kings of Zobah' (1 Sam 14:47). The verse does not state whose border was being recovered.

Verse 4

David houghed all the chariot horses — 'Aqar, to hamstring, the treatment the LORD ordered for the northern kings' horses: 'thou shalt hough their horses' (Josh 11:6, 9). It also keeps the king's law, 'he shall not multiply horses to himself' (Deut 17:16). David keeps horses only 'for an hundred chariots'.

Verse 6

And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went — 'Preserved' is yasha', to save, the verb Abner used of what the LORD would do 'by the hand of my servant David' (2 Sam 3:18). The sentence is repeated in v.14. 'Garrisons' is netsib, a post set up, and the Syrians 'brought gifts' (minchah), as Moab did in v.2.

Verse 7

the shields of gold — Shelet, a shield, taken from Hadadezer's servants and brought to Jerusalem. The same word is used of 'king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD' when Jehoiada armed the captains (2 Kgs 11:10), so shields from David's time were still kept in the house of the LORD generations later.

Verse 8

exceeding much brass — 'Brass' is nechosheth, copper or bronze. The matching verse names the cities as Tibhath and Chun and gives the use of the metal: 'wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass' (1 Chr 18:8). Here the cities are Betah and Berothai.

Verse 10

to salute him, and to bless him — 'Salute' is literally to ask of his welfare (sha'al, shalom, as in 1 Sam 30:21), and 'bless' is barak. Toi is the king of Hamath (1 Chr 18:9), and his son Joram is called Hadoram in 1 Chr 18:10. The reason given is that 'Hadadezer had wars with Toi'. The vessels of silver, gold and brass he brought are dedicated in v.11.

Verse 11

did dedicate unto the LORD — Qadash, to set apart as holy. The nations are listed in 1 Chr 18:11: Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines and Amalek. The gold, silver and brass go toward the house David was not to build, for which he says 'I have prepared with all my might' (1 Chr 29:2).

Verse 13

gat him a name — A 'name' (shem) is what the LORD had promised: 'I… have made thee a great name' (2 Sam 7:9). The Valley of Salt is where Edom is struck, since the matching verse gives 'Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand' (1 Chr 18:12), and 2 Kgs 14:7 records Amaziah's victory there.

Verse 14

all they of Edom became David's servants — This answers the word to Rebekah, 'the elder shall serve the younger' (Gen 25:23), and Balaam's 'Edom shall be a possession' (Num 24:18). The sentence 'the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went' is the same as in v.6, and closes the campaigns of the chapter.

Verse 15

executed judgment and justice unto all his people — Mishpat and tsedaqah, the pair of words Jeremiah gives to the coming Branch of David, who 'shall execute judgment and justice in the earth' (Jer 23:5). Ps 72:2 asks the same of the king: 'He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment'.

Verse 17

Zadok the son of Ahitub — Zadok was of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar (1 Chr 24:3), the two priestly houses, and the verse lists them together as 'the priests'. When Solomon later removed Abiathar, it was 'that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh' (1 Kgs 2:27). 'Scribe' is saphar, one who records.

Verse 18

the Cherethites and the Pelethites — The Cherethites are named in 1 Sam 30:14 as a people of the south, and both bands go with David when he leaves Jerusalem (2 Sam 15:18). Benaiah commands them. 'Chief rulers' is kohen, the ordinary word for priest, the same as in v.17, and 1 Chr 18:17 words it 'chief about the king'.