2 Samuel 8:3-7
8:3 a Hadadezer reappears in 10:16 b as David’s foe. He was either the direct son of Rehob and his successor or the reigning king of a dynasty established by a king named Rehob, whose kingdom was near the northern city of Dan (see Judg 18:28 c; cp. Num 13:21 d).• Zobah was north and east of David’s kingdom.
• It is possible that David, not Hadadezer (literally he), marched out to strengthen his control.
• the Euphrates River: Literally the river; 1 Chr 18:3 e specifically identifies the Euphrates. Cp. 2 Sam 10:16 f.
8:4 g David would have crippled ... horses to prevent their reuse by the enemy and because kings in Israel were not to accumulate horses (Deut 17:16 h).
8:5 i Hadadezer’s neighbors, Arameans from Damascus, were of no help to him in repelling David. They would later be more successful against Solomon (1 Kgs 11:23-25 j) but less successful in their attack of Samaria during the days of King Ahab of Israel (1 Kgs 20 k).
8:6 l David established army garrisons in Aram but not in Moab (8:2 m), which suggests that Aram was a more formidable force and that David needed a military presence there to maintain control.
• the Lord made David victorious: Cp. 8:14 n. God was the real source of David’s growth and power.
8:7 o gold shields: See also 2 Kgs 11:10 p.
• brought ... to Jerusalem: In conformity with God’s stipulations for a good king (Deut 17:17 q), David dedicated these valuable items to God (see 2 Sam 8:11 r) rather than hoarding them for his own wealth and splendor.
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