2Sa 8:3-12 | TNotes | STEP | 8:3 Hadadezer reappears in 10:16 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 ; cp. Num 13:21 ). • 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 specifically identifies the Euphrates. Cp. 2 Sam 10:16 .

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.
8:9 ^s Hamath was northwest of Hadadezer’s Zobah.
8:10 ^t 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 ^u 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 ^v Captured war booty and diplomatic exchanges went into God’s treasury rather than the king’s treasury. Voluntary gifts (8:11a ^w) and plunder exacted from defeated foes (8:11b-12 ^x) also were dedicated ... to the Lord.