2 Samuel 8
8
David Wins Many Wars
1Later David defeated the Philistines and took control of a large area of land around Gath.#8:1 area of land around Gath Or “villages controlled by the mother city” or “Metheg-Ammah.” See 1 Chron. 18:1. 2He also defeated the Moabites. He forced them to lie on the ground in a long row. Using a rope to measure, those within two lengths of the rope were killed and those within every third length were allowed to live. So the Moabites became servants of David and paid tribute to him.
3David went to an area near the Euphrates to set up a monument for himself.#8:3 David went … for himself Or “David went to take control of the area near the Euphrates River.” At that time he defeated the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. 4David took 1000 chariots, 7000 horse soldiers,#8:4 David … soldiers This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “1700 horse soldiers.” and 20,000 foot soldiers from Hadadezer. He crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses.#8:4 He crippled … horses Or “He destroyed all but 100 chariots.”
5Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David defeated those 22,000 Arameans. 6Then David put his soldiers in Damascus, Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields#8:7 shields Or “bow cases.” that had belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah#8:8 Tebah This is found in some ancient Greek copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Betah.” See 1 Chron. 18:8. and Berothai. (Tebah and Berothai were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)
9King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army. 10Hadadezer had fought against Toi in the past, so Toi sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted him and blessed him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Joram brought gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. 11David took these things and dedicated them to the Lord, as he had done with all the other things he had taken from the nations he had defeated: 12Aram, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. He had also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13David had defeated 18,000 Edomites#8:13 Edomites This is found in the ancient Greek and Syriac versions and a few Hebrew copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Arameans.” in Salt Valley. He was famous when he came home. 14He put teams of soldiers throughout Edom, and the whole nation became his servants. The Lord gave victory to him wherever he went.
David’s Rule
15David ruled over all Israel, and he made good and fair decisions for all of his people. 16Joab son of Zeruiah was the captain over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the historian. 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was secretary. 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites,#8:18 Kerethites and Pelethites These were David’s special bodyguards. An ancient Aramaic version has “the archers and stone throwers.” This would mean these men were specially trained in using bows and arrows and slings. and David’s sons were priests.#8:18 priests Or “important leaders.”
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
2 Samuel 8
8
David’s Victories
1After this, David defeated the Philistines,#1Ch 18:1–17 subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah#8:1 Or took control of the mother city; Hb obscure from Philistine control.#8:1 LXX reads them, and David took tribute out of the hand of the Philistines#2Sm 3:18 2He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one full length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.#Nm 24:17
3David also defeated Hadadezer#2Sm 10:16–19 son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4David captured seventeen hundred horsemen#8:4 LXX, DSS read 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses#Jos 11:6 and kept a hundred chariots.#8:4 Or chariot horses
5When the Arameans of Damascus#Gn 14:15; Ac 9:2–27 came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.#2Sm 8:14
7David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.#2Kg 11:10; 2Ch 23:9 8King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah#8:8 Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.
9When King Toi of Hamath#Gn 10:15–18; Ezk 47:16–17 heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. 11King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued#1Kg 7:51; 1Ch 26:26 — 12from Edom,#8:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Aram; 1Ch 18:11 Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David made a reputation#2Sm 7:9 for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites#8:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Arameans; 1Ch 18:12 in Salt Valley.#8:13 = the Dead Sea region#2Kg 14:7 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.#Gn 25:23; 27:29–40; Nm 24:18 The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.#Dt 20:4; 2Sm 8:6
15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.#1Kg 10:9; Ps 99:4; Jr 9:23; 22:3,15; 23:5; 33:15; Ezk 18:5
16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
Seraiah was court secretary;
18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;#2Sm 23:20–23
and David’s sons were chief officials.#8:18 LXX; MT reads were priests; 1Ch 18:17
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