2 Samuel8
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
2And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
3David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.
4And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.
5And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
9And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10then 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:
11these also did king David dedicate unto Jehovah, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;
12of 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.
13And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.
14And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.
15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness unto all his people.
16And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
17and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;
18and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David subdues the Philistines, the Moabites, and the Syrians. (1–8). The spoil dedicated. (9–14). David's government and officers. (15–18).
vv1-8
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.
vv9-14
All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. The idols of gold David destroyed, 2Sa 5:21, but the vessels 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.
vv15-18
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.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָכָה: to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
כָּנַע: properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
מֶתֶג הָאַמָּה: Metheg-ha-Ammah, an epithet of Gath
יָד: a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
מוֹאָב: Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
מָדַד: properly, to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended
Cross References
2 Samuel 8Fulfilled Balaam's prophecy that a star from Jacob would rise and smite the corners of Moab.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of God's covenant boundary promise to Abraham, extending Israel's territory to the Euphrates.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel account of David dedicating the silver and gold won from the nations to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of Isaac's prophecy that Esau (Edom) would serve his brother Jacob.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Law forbidding seeking Moab's peace, explaining the severity of David's measuring-line judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of David defeating Hadadezer (Hadarezer) king of Zobah near the Euphrates.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Matches Joshua's practice of hamstringing war horses, adhering to God's prohibition on multiplying horses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic law prohibiting Israel's king from multiplying horses, explaining why David hamstrung them.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Psalm written about these specific campaigns, particularly the military struggle in the Valley of Salt.
Supported by JFB
Details Abishai slaying eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Supported by JFB
Previous wars against Moab, Ammon, Edom, and the kings of Zobah under Saul.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Shows how the abundant brass captured from Hadadezer's cities was accumulated for the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Solomon brings the dedicated things of his father David into the completed temple treasury.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Prophecy of the righteous Branch of David who will execute judgment and justice on earth.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel list clarifying the roles of the Cherethites, Pelethites, and David's sons.
Supported by JFB