2Sa 8:3-8 | KingComments | STEP | After the Philistines it is Moab’s turn. This enemy is also defeated. Here a pre-fulfillment of the prophecy of Balaam takes place: “A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab” ( ). In judging the Moabites, David uses lines to measure. In this way he determines who is killed and who is allowed to stay alive. It is reminiscent of the effect of the gospel, of which we read that it is “to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” ( ). Moab is also defeated by David. The Moabites remained indebted to Israel until after the death of Ahab. Then they rebelled and were never subjected again ( ). The final submission, according to the quoted prophecy of Balaam, will be done by “the star of Jacob” and the “scepter of Israel”, which in reality refers to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel. The spiritual meaning of this enemy is not difficult. We read of Moab that it is characterized by pride and laziness ( ; ). These sins are in us, in our flesh. In Christ we have power over sin. In practice, it means that we must keep ourselves dead to sin. This can be done by constantly thinking that our old man has been crucified with Christ. As soon as pride or laziness are to assert themselves in our lives, we must look at Christ and His work on the cross. Only in this way will the flesh not have a chance to assert itself. The next enemies to be defeated are the Arameans. These enemies try to undermine the authority of David at the extreme borders of God’s people. David goes there to maintain his authority. What God has given as a boundary for His people, the Euphrates ( ), there the enemy tries to regain authority. The spiritual lesson is that there are powers that try to take possession of the boundaries God has given in His Word. For example, we can think of the limitation of marriage as the only area God has given in which sexuality can be experienced in the way He purposed. The Arameans consist of two groups. We read this in Psalm 60, a psalm David has made in response to the battle described here. David begins with “the Arameans of Zobah” ( ; ). When he goes to the border of his realm at the Euphrates, he finds the king of Zobah on his way. This king claims the possession of the countries that belong to Israel. They are assigned to Abraham and his seed by the promise of God. David beats him, takes his chariots away from him and captures many horsemen and footmen. He also cuts through the hamstrings of many horses, making them lame and unusable for battle. David also deals with the Arameans of Damascus who came to help the king of Zobah. They do this to their own destruction. All the conspiracy against the LORD and His anointed only simplifies the judgment of them. The enemies of God are also joined together in the end times by an invisible power to be completely destroyed in one moment ( ). Many of the Arameans are killed by David. As a result he simply conquered Damascus and turned it into a garrison town. David overcomes because the LORD gives him victory ( ). It is good to realize that in ourselves there is no power to overcome any enemy.

‏ 2 Samuel 8:3-8

Other Enemies Defeated

After the Philistines it is Moab’s turn. This enemy is also defeated. Here a pre-fulfillment of the prophecy of Balaam takes place: “A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab” (Num 24:17). In judging the Moabites, David uses lines to measure. In this way he determines who is killed and who is allowed to stay alive. It is reminiscent of the effect of the gospel, of which we read that it is “to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (2Cor 2:16).

Moab is also defeated by David. The Moabites remained indebted to Israel until after the death of Ahab. Then they rebelled and were never subjected again (2Kgs 3:4-5). The final submission, according to the quoted prophecy of Balaam, will be done by “the star of Jacob” and the “scepter of Israel”, which in reality refers to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.

The spiritual meaning of this enemy is not difficult. We read of Moab that it is characterized by pride and laziness (Isa 16:6; Jer 48:11a). These sins are in us, in our flesh. In Christ we have power over sin. In practice, it means that we must keep ourselves dead to sin. This can be done by constantly thinking that our old man has been crucified with Christ. As soon as pride or laziness are to assert themselves in our lives, we must look at Christ and His work on the cross. Only in this way will the flesh not have a chance to assert itself.

The next enemies to be defeated are the Arameans. These enemies try to undermine the authority of David at the extreme borders of God’s people. David goes there to maintain his authority. What God has given as a boundary for His people, the Euphrates (Gen 15:18), there the enemy tries to regain authority. The spiritual lesson is that there are powers that try to take possession of the boundaries God has given in His Word. For example, we can think of the limitation of marriage as the only area God has given in which sexuality can be experienced in the way He purposed.

The Arameans consist of two groups. We read this in Psalm 60, a psalm David has made in response to the battle described here. David begins with “the Arameans of Zobah” (2Sam 8:3-4; Psa 60:1a). When he goes to the border of his realm at the Euphrates, he finds the king of Zobah on his way. This king claims the possession of the countries that belong to Israel. They are assigned to Abraham and his seed by the promise of God. David beats him, takes his chariots away from him and captures many horsemen and footmen. He also cuts through the hamstrings of many horses, making them lame and unusable for battle.

David also deals with the Arameans of Damascus who came to help the king of Zobah. They do this to their own destruction. All the conspiracy against the LORD and His anointed only simplifies the judgment of them. The enemies of God are also joined together in the end times by an invisible power to be completely destroyed in one moment (Isa 8:9). Many of the Arameans are killed by David. As a result he simply conquered Damascus and turned it into a garrison town.

David overcomes because the LORD gives him victory (2Sam 8:6 ; 14). It is good to realize that in ourselves there is no power to overcome any enemy.

David’s Booty of War

Because David has defeated Hadadezer, there is joy with Toi, king of Hamath. Defeating enemies has a richer effect than just a personal joy. Just as failure has evil consequences for others (2Sam 6:7), so a victory in the power of God has good effects for others.

Toi does not come forced, but voluntarily. In the realm of peace, kings and empires will be subjected with an iron rod, while others will voluntarily submit to the rule of the Lord Jesus (Psa 18:43-45). They are grateful to Him for defeating their enemies. Toi brings articles of metals which David can use for building the temple.

David sanctifies all that he captures in the various wars for the LORD (2Sam 8:11). Everything is destined for building the temple (1Kgs 7:51). That the temple is built from the spoils and gifts of pagan peoples shows God’s benevolence to the pagans. The house of God will therefore be called “a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isa 56:7). We see the same with the new Jerusalem. We read of “the kings of the earth” that they “bring their glory to her” (Rev 21:24).

If someone is overcome by the grace of the Son of David, all that has served first to his own glory must be used from that moment on to glorify Him. For this it must be sanctified, i.e. consciously given that destiny and no longer used for his own glorification (cf. Isa 23:18; Mic 4:13b). This is only possible if everything is seen in the light of the cross.