2 Samuel 8:1-14
Summary for 2Sam 8:1-18: 8:1-18 a The expansion of David’s empire through military victories (8:1-14 b) and the establishment of his royal bureaucracy (8:15-18 c) fulfilled God’s promise of a famous name (7:9 d; cp. 8:13 e).8:2 f Moab was on the east side of the Dead Sea. Earlier, the people of Moab had provided David’s parents with refuge during Saul’s reign (1 Sam 22:3-4 g); David’s great-grandmother, Ruth, was from Moab. For whatever reason, no such fraternal relationship existed any longer.
• two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared: This is the only time in 2 Samuel that David executed captives taken in battle (see Num 21:29 h; 24:17 i; Deut 2:9 j).
8:3 k Hadadezer reappears in 10:16 l 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 m; cp. Num 13:21 n).
• 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 o specifically identifies the Euphrates. Cp. 2 Sam 10:16 p.
8:4 q 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 r).
8:5 s 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 t) but less successful in their attack of Samaria during the days of King Ahab of Israel (1 Kgs 20 u).
8:6 v David established army garrisons in Aram but not in Moab (8:2 w), 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 x. God was the real source of David’s growth and power.
8:7 y gold shields: See also 2 Kgs 11:10 z.
• brought ... to Jerusalem: In conformity with God’s stipulations for a good king (Deut 17:17 aa), David dedicated these valuable items to God (see 2 Sam 8:11 ab) rather than hoarding them for his own wealth and splendor.
8:9 ac Hamath was northwest of Hadadezer’s Zobah.
8:10 ad his son: King Toi dispatched the crown prince rather than another entourage on this mission because he considered it vital to stay properly connected with David.
• Joram: The prefix Jo- is an abbreviated form of Yahweh; Joram means “Yahweh is exalted.” In 1 Chr 18:10 ae the prince’s name is Hadoram, which means “Hadad [a Canaanite god] is exalted.” It is possible that Toi changed the prince’s name for diplomatic reasons, to make it more agreeable to David.
Summary for 2Sam 8:11-12: 8:11-12 af Captured war booty and diplomatic exchanges went into God’s treasury rather than the king’s treasury. Voluntary gifts (8:11a ag) and plunder exacted from defeated foes (8:11b-12 ah) also were dedicated ... to the Lord.
Summary for 2Sam 8:13-14: 8:13-14 ai These two verses highlight three of David’s war policies: (1) inflict heavy damage on the enemy (18,000 casualties); (2) reduce them to vassalage (they became David’s subjects); (3) place army garrisons in the conquered territory to maintain control over them.
• Edomites: This name is very similar to Arameans in old Hebrew script. Edomites is more likely, however, because the Valley of Salt (the Dead Sea area) was adjacent to Edomite, not Aramean, territory.
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