II Samuel 8:1-18
“And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.” ( II Samuel 8:1)
There had been a respite from fighting, and David had decided to build a temple, but God told him not to. A short time later the philistines again attacked, and David was able to subdue them, occupying their territory and claiming some of it for Israel, because he was able to focus on that job. It was only the first of a long series of conquests of the groups that had threatened them for six hundred years.
“And 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.” (II Samuel 8:2)
The Moabites, descendants of Lot, occupied an area on the east side of the Dead Sea. They had regularly attacked Israel. David defeated them, executing two thirds of them. The remainder chose to become tributaries to Israel, rather than be killed.
“David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.” (II Samuel 8:3-4)
David defeated the king of Zobah, a section of present day Syria extending north to the Euphrates river, and including the area around Haran where Abraham‘s father had settled. David captured a thousand chariots, twenty thousand foot soldiers and seven hundred cavalry men. He hocked or disabled all the horses except enough for a hundred chariots, which he kept for himself.
“ And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Then 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. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.” (II Samuel 8:5-8)
When the Syrians from around Damascus and eastward attempted to aid Zobah, David defeated tham as well, occupying their territories and making them vassals, after killing twenty two thousand in battle. He established several military bases in Syria to maintain peace. There was considerable mining in the area and David procured a lot of copper and brass as a result.
“When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, Then 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: Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of 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.” (II Samuel 8:9-12)
Toi, king of Hamath, the area just west of Zobah, had fought with Hadadezer before. He decided he would rather not fight David and voluntarily became a tributary to David. David took the tribute he paid as well as that of the other countries and dedicated them to the Lord.
“And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants.” (II Samuel 8:13-14)
After wiping out another army of eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt, the other countries began to take David seriously. When he occupied Edom it gave him control of the entire region on both sides of the Jordan and eastward from the Euphrates river to the Gulf of Aqaba. Essentially, he controlled most of present day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and a small piece of Egypt. He seems to have controlled parts of present day Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well.
“And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” (II Samuel 8:14b-15)
While Saul had been king, Israel had been a military state, with Saul constantly trying to build his own power. I Samuel 14:52 declares, “…and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.” David was far more interested in developing Israel’s spiritual state. The military and economic strength were the results of serving God, rather than the primary goals as they had been under Saul. Consequently, David conquered far more territory than Saul did. As Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
“And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.” (II Samuel 8:16-18)
David delegated authority, making Joab commander of the army, Benaiah head of security, Jehoshaphat the recorder to keep records and Seriah as scribe or press secretary to handle communications. His sons were assigned to oversee various departments.
“And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.” ( II Samuel 8:1)
There had been a respite from fighting, and David had decided to build a temple, but God told him not to. A short time later the philistines again attacked, and David was able to subdue them, occupying their territory and claiming some of it for Israel, because he was able to focus on that job. It was only the first of a long series of conquests of the groups that had threatened them for six hundred years.
“And 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.” (II Samuel 8:2)
The Moabites, descendants of Lot, occupied an area on the east side of the Dead Sea. They had regularly attacked Israel. David defeated them, executing two thirds of them. The remainder chose to become tributaries to Israel, rather than be killed.
“David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.” (II Samuel 8:3-4)
David defeated the king of Zobah, a section of present day Syria extending north to the Euphrates river, and including the area around Haran where Abraham‘s father had settled. David captured a thousand chariots, twenty thousand foot soldiers and seven hundred cavalry men. He hocked or disabled all the horses except enough for a hundred chariots, which he kept for himself.
“ And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Then 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. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.” (II Samuel 8:5-8)
When the Syrians from around Damascus and eastward attempted to aid Zobah, David defeated tham as well, occupying their territories and making them vassals, after killing twenty two thousand in battle. He established several military bases in Syria to maintain peace. There was considerable mining in the area and David procured a lot of copper and brass as a result.
“When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, Then 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: Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of 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.” (II Samuel 8:9-12)
Toi, king of Hamath, the area just west of Zobah, had fought with Hadadezer before. He decided he would rather not fight David and voluntarily became a tributary to David. David took the tribute he paid as well as that of the other countries and dedicated them to the Lord.
“And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants.” (II Samuel 8:13-14)
After wiping out another army of eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt, the other countries began to take David seriously. When he occupied Edom it gave him control of the entire region on both sides of the Jordan and eastward from the Euphrates river to the Gulf of Aqaba. Essentially, he controlled most of present day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and a small piece of Egypt. He seems to have controlled parts of present day Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well.
“And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.” (II Samuel 8:14b-15)
While Saul had been king, Israel had been a military state, with Saul constantly trying to build his own power. I Samuel 14:52 declares, “…and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.” David was far more interested in developing Israel’s spiritual state. The military and economic strength were the results of serving God, rather than the primary goals as they had been under Saul. Consequently, David conquered far more territory than Saul did. As Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
“And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.” (II Samuel 8:16-18)
David delegated authority, making Joab commander of the army, Benaiah head of security, Jehoshaphat the recorder to keep records and Seriah as scribe or press secretary to handle communications. His sons were assigned to oversee various departments.
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