The Histories · Old Testament

2 Samuel 8

David's victories and royal administration

General context

The chapter summarizes David's victories over surrounding peoples, the tribute that follows and the goods he dedicates to the Lord. It includes the killing of Moabite captives measured by lines and the disabling of captured chariot horses. Toi of Hamath sends gifts after David defeats their common enemy Hadadezer. The narrator repeatedly credits the Lord with preserving David, then closes with his administration of justice and a list of leading officials.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 8:1, 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Samuel 8:3, 2 Samuel 8:4, 2 Samuel 8:5, 2 Samuel 8:6, 2 Samuel 8:7, 2 Samuel 8:8, 2 Samuel 8:9, 2 Samuel 8:10, 2 Samuel 8:11, 2 Samuel 8:12, 2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Samuel 8:14, 2 Samuel 8:15, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 8:18

2 Samuel 8 (KJV)

¹And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

²And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

³David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

⁴And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

⁵And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

⁶Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

⁷And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

⁸And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

⁹When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

¹⁰Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

¹¹Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

¹²Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

¹⁴And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

¹⁵And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

¹⁶And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

¹⁷And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

¹⁸And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.

This page shows the King James Version. In the app, reading opens in the Berean Standard Bible unless you have chosen another translation. The reader includes five translations: the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), the King James Version (KJV), the World English Bible (WEB), the Bible in Basic English (BBE), and the American Standard Version (ASV). Search covers three of them: Berean Standard, King James, and World English. Basic English and American Standard readers search the King James words.

Historical context

Tribute, garrisons and dedicated spoils mark different forms of royal power in the account. The closing list assigns the army to Joab and names priests, a recorder, a scribe and the commander of the Cherethites and Pelethites. Some wording differs across translations: verse 13 names Syrians in KJV and ASV but Edom in BBE; verse 18 calls David's sons chief rulers or ministers in KJV and ASV but priests in BBE.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 8:6, 2 Samuel 8:7, 2 Samuel 8:8, 2 Samuel 8:9, 2 Samuel 8:10, 2 Samuel 8:11, 2 Samuel 8:12, 2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Samuel 8:14, 2 Samuel 8:15, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 8:18

Literary context

The repeated statement that the Lord preserves David links otherwise compressed notices of warfare and expansion. The final move to judgment, justice and named officers gives the kingdom an administrative shape. The accounts of tribute and good government stand alongside the chapter's explicit killing and coercion; a summary of prosperity alone would miss part of what is narrated.

Cited passages: 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Samuel 8:3, 2 Samuel 8:4, 2 Samuel 8:5, 2 Samuel 8:6, 2 Samuel 8:11, 2 Samuel 8:12, 2 Samuel 8:13, 2 Samuel 8:14, 2 Samuel 8:15, 2 Samuel 8:16, 2 Samuel 8:17, 2 Samuel 8:18

Key moments

Moab subdued through killing and tribute (2 Samuel 8:2). David has some measured captives killed and others spared; Moab becomes tributary.
The Lord's preservation named (2 Samuel 8:6). The narrator credits the Lord with preserving David through his campaigns.
Gifts from Hamath (2 Samuel 8:10). Toi sends his son with congratulations and precious vessels.
Spoils dedicated (2 Samuel 8:11). David dedicates the gifts and other conquered wealth to the Lord.
Justice and government (2 Samuel 8:15). The narrator describes David administering judgment and justice to Israel.

For reflection

How do the military notices and the closing account of justice require you to consider more than one aspect of David's rule?

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