Introduction:
David’s role focused on unifying Israel and expanding its territory further. When David became king, Israel already occupied much of the Promised Land, though there were still threats from neighboring nations like the Philistines. David’s military campaigns and conquests helped secure and expand Israel’s borders, establishing it as a more unified and powerful kingdom. He also established Jerusalem as the political and spiritual capital.
David’s role was to consolidate and unify Israel under a central monarchy.
- David’s desire to build a temple was commendable, but his gift and mission were to fight the Lord’s battles until Israel was securely at rest in the Promised Land.
The events in chapter 8 took place before chapter 7.
2 Samuel 8:1-18 NLT
David’s Military Victories
8:1 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town. 2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.
5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Berothai.
9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— 12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
15 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.
Examine the Scriptures
2 Samuel 8:1-18 NLT
David’s Military Victories
These events took place before chapter 7.
8:1 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.
Note: Scripture says subdued, not destroyed.
Some translations refer to Metheg-ammah, not Gath. (Meth eg am mah)
Metheg-ammah is a name that means “the bridle”.
Metheg-ammah is believed to refer to Gath, the chief town of the Philistines.
Gath was one of the five royal cities of the Philistines.
1 Chronicles 18:1 NLT
David’s Military Victories
18:1 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath and its surrounding towns.
Translations of 1 Chronicles 18:1 do not use the name Metheg-ammah. They only use Gath (54 times), or in two cases Gat, and one case Geth.
The Philistines had been enemies of the Israelites for 125 years.
The Philistines were never completely destroyed by the Israelites. Their ultimate downfall came with the expansion of powerful empires such as the Assyrian Empire and later the Babylonian Empire.
- Subduing the Philistines was part of God’s promise to David (… I will give you rest from all your enemies…).
2 Samuel 7:11 NLT
11 … And I will give you rest from all your enemies…
This was beginning to happen.
2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
This event is somewhat baffling.
What do we know about the Moabites?
The Moabites were closely related to the Israelites, as they were descendants of Moab, the son of Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:30-38). This made them distant relatives of the Israelites.
Ruth was a Moabite woman.
David’s parents lived in Moab with the king during the time David was running from Saul.
1 Samuel 22:3-4 NLT
3 Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” 4 So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.
- The relationship between the Moabites and the Israelites was complex and often marked by conflict. While they shared a common ancestry, the Moabites were frequently in opposition to the Israelites.
- The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah,
An Aramaean King
An Aramean kingdom located to the north of Israel. (see map)
An area that is now modern-day Syria.
- The kingdom of Zobah was known for its wealth and strong military capabilities.
Its king, Hadadezer, commanded a formidable army that included chariots and cavalry, indicative of a powerful and well-organized state.
when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. (also in 1 Chronicles 18)
Some translations say 1,700 cavalry (horseman) and 20,000 foot soldiers.
See verse 6:
6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.
Disabled them from military action.
Note: one commentator said the hamstrung horses may have been used as farm or pack horses.
Note: Deuteronomy 17:16 NLT
16 “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’
Joshua 11:6 NLT
6 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel as dead men. Then you must cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”
This was part of a broader strategy to prevent the Israelites from becoming dependent on horses and chariots, which were associated with military power and the practices of other nations.
Psalm 20:7 NLT
7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
Isaiah 31:1 NLT
What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help,
trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers
and depending on the strength of human armies
instead of looking to the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
- God’s chosen people were expected to trust in the Lord for their military successes, and not become dependent on horses and chariots.
5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
Damascus was not part of Zobah; it was a separate and independent Aramean kingdom.
- Hadadezer’s defeat was significant because it brought wealth and tribute to David’s kingdom and marked the expansion of Israel’s power in the region.
So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went. (Repeated in verse 14)
- God’s blessings, not David’s skill, is the reason for David’s victories.
Psalm 18:1-2 NLT
1 I love you, Lord;
you are my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
David knew that his strength came from the Lord.
7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Berothai.
Read:
1 Chronicles 18:8 NLT
7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Cun. Later Solomon melted the bronze and molded it into the great bronze basin called the Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze articles used at the Temple.
9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
- Seeing what had happened to other Aramean kingdoms, King Toi of Hamath gave David gifts to indicate that he voluntarily submitted to him as his vassal.
11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— 12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
- King David dedicated all of the gifts, the silver, and the gold he had gotten from nations he had defeated to the Lord.
13 So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
14 He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects.
More wealth and tribute to David’s kingdom as well as continued expansion of Israel’s power in the region.
In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
15 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
- David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
David established a system of government (a cabinet) to administer the affairs of the nation.
16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army.
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.
17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests.
Seraiah was the court secretary.
18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada (one of David’s mighty men) was captain of the king’s bodyguard.
And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.
David’s sons would have served as chief officials or chaplains for the royal family. They were not eligible to serve as priests. Only the descendants of Levi could serve as priests in the tabernacle and temple.
- David established a system of government (a cabinet) to administer the affairs of the nation.
