2 Samuel 8

David’s Victories

1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at^[a] the Euphrates River.

4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers^[b] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.

6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 From Tebah^[c] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

9 When Tou^[d] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

10 he sent his son Joram^[e] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:

12 Edom^[f] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^[g] in the Valley of Salt.

14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials

15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;

18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^[h]

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. Psalms 60:8; Psalms 87:4; Psalms 108:9
• 2. Hebrews 11:32-33
• 3. S Genesis 19:37; S Numbers 21:29; Numbers 24:17
• 4. S Judges 3:15; S Isaiah 45:14
• 5. 2 Samuel 10:16,19; 1 Kings 11:23
• 6. S 1 Samuel 14:47
• 7. S Genesis 2:14
• 8. S Genesis 49:6; Joshua 11:9
• 9. S Genesis 14:15; 2 Samuel 10:6; 1 Kings 11:24; 2 Kings 8:7; 2 Kings 14:28
• 10. 1 Kings 20:34
• 11. 2 Samuel 10:19
• 12. ver 14; 2 Samuel 3:18; 2 Samuel 7:9
• 13. 1 Kings 10:16; 1 Kings 14:26; 2 Kings 11:10
• 14. Ezekiel 47:16
• 15. 1 Kings 8:65; 2 Kings 14:28; 2 Chronicles 8:4
• 16. Luke 14:31-32
• 17. ver 12; 1 Kings 7:51; 1 Kings 15:15; 1 Chronicles 26:26; 2 Chronicles 5:1
• 18. S Numbers 24:18
• 19. ver 2
• 20. 2 Samuel 10:14
• 21. S 2 Samuel 5:25
• 22. S Numbers 24:20; S 1 Samuel 27:8
• 23. 2 Samuel 7:9
• 24. 2 Kings 14:7; 1 Chronicles 18:12; Psalms 60 Title
• 25. Numbers 24:17-18; Psalms 108:9; Isaiah 34:5; Isaiah 63:1; Jeremiah 49:7; Ezekiel 25:12
• 26. S Ge 27:29,37-40
• 27. Psalms 144:10
• 28. ver 6; 2 Samuel 22:44; Psalms 18:43
• 29. S Genesis 18:19; 1 Kings 11:38; 1 Kings 14:8; 1 Kings 15:11; 1 Kings 22:43; 2 Kings 12:2; Job 29:14; Psalms 5:12; Psalms 119:121; Hebrews 11:33
• 30. S 2 Samuel 2:13; 2 Samuel 19:13; 1 Chronicles 11:6
• 31. 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:3
• 32. Isaiah 36:3,22
• 33. S 1 Samuel 2:35; 2 Samuel 15:24,29; 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 4:4; 1 Chronicles 6:8,53; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 27:17; 2 Chronicles 31:10; Ezekiel 40:46; Ezekiel 43:19; Ezekiel 44:15; Ezekiel 48:11
• 34. Mark 2:26
• 35. 1 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 19:2; 2 Kings 22:3; Isaiah 36:3; Jeremiah 36:12
• 36. 2 Samuel 20:23; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Kings 1:8,38; 1 Kings 2:25,35,46; 1 Kings 4:4; 1 Chronicles 18:17
• 37. S 1 Samuel 30:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "his control along"
• [b]. Septuagint (see also Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Chron. 18:4); Masoretic Text "captured seventeen hundred of his charioteers"
• [c]. See some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 1 Chron. 18:8); Hebrew "Betah" .
• [d]. Hebrew "Toi" , a variant of "Tou" ; also in verse 10
• [e]. A variant of "Hadoram"
• [f]. Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aram"
• [g]. A few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aram" (that is, Arameans)
• [h]. Or "were chief officials" (see Septuagint and Targum; see also 1 Chron. 18:17)

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.