• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • 0Shopping Cart
Enduring Word
  • Enduring Word
  • About
    • FAQs
    • Free Smartphone App
    • About Enduring Word
    • David Guzik
    • Your Story
    • Pray for Enduring Word
    • Bibliography
    • The Team of Enduring Word
    • Donations
    • Speaking Request
    • Global Dental Mission
    • 2023 Holy Land Cruise
  • Commentary
    • Commentary – English
    • Comentario – Español
    • Comentário – Português
    • 注释 – 中文 (Chinese)
    • (Arabic) تفاسير – اللغة العربية
    • Farsi فارسی
    • русский (Russian)
    • ўзбек (Uzbek)
    • Commentaire – Français
    • Commentario – Italiano
    • Kommentar – Deutsch
    • Commentary – Tamil
    • Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen
  • Media
    • YouTube Channel
    • Question & Answer Videos
    • Q&A Podcast
    • Q&A Topics
    • Video
    • Audio Messages
    • YouVersion Devotional Reading Plans
  • Social Media
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
  • Store
    • New & Featured
    • Bible Commentaries
    • For the Christian Life
    • By J. Edwin Orr
  • The Post
  • Blog
    • Q&A with David Guzik
    • Weekly Devotional
    • For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers
    • Bible Study Tools
    • Thinking About…
    • Creed
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • 2 Samuel
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16-24

2 Samuel 8 – The Wars of David

Audio for 2 Samuel 8:

2 Samuel 8 – David’s Triumph

A. David’s many wars.

1. (1) David subdues the Philistines.

After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

a. David attacked the Philistines and subdued them: The Philistines had troubled Israel for centuries, and they often dominated the people of God. In the reign of David, he both attacked and subdued these troublesome enemies.

i. David didn’t avoid fighting the Philistines because Israel had lost to them so many times before. “The thing that fascinates me about this complete victory is the utter contempt with which David treated the great power of his adversaries.” (Redpath)

b. David took Metheg Ammah: This was another name for the famous Philistine city of Gath (compare 1 Chronicles 18:1). When David became king, the Philistines were taking territory from God’s people. Under his leadership, God’s people began to take territory from the enemy.

2. (2) The Moabites put under tribute.

Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

a. He defeated Moab: David’s war against Moab and his harsh treatment of their army seemed out of place considering that David’s great-grandmother was a Moabite (Ruth) and that he entrusted his mother and father into the care of the Moabites (1 Samuel 22:3-4). It may be that the Moabites killed or mistreated David’s parents.

b. Brought tribute: God did not want Israel to destroy every neighbor nation. Generally, God wanted Israel to be so blessed and strong that other nations were “taxed” by Israel, thus recognizing their strength and dominance.

3. (3-8) David conquers a Syrian alliance.

David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. The LORD preserved David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

a. As he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates: The king of Zobah (a Syrian kingdom) ran into David on his way to capture territory near the Euphrates. David’s dominance extended all the way to the Euphrates River.

i. “The border of Israel was carried to the line of the Euphrates, so that promise made by God to Abraham was fulfilled: ‘Unto thy seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.’” (Meyer)

ii. “Then there was Syria, the great heathen nation to the north, divided into two groups with capitals at Zobah and Damascus. They united together for protection but found themselves helpless against the might of David.” (Redpath)

b. David hamstrung all the chariot horses: This was military necessity instead of mere animal cruelty. David could not care for so many horses while on a military campaign and he could not give them back to the enemy.

c. He spared enough of them for one hundred chariots: That David kept such a small number shows remarkable self-control and trust in God. David obeyed the principle of Deuteronomy 17:15-16 and absolutely refused to trust in horses as military weapons. His trust was in God instead (Psalm 20:7 and 33:16-17).

d. David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer: David took what was the glory of the enemy and transformed them into trophies of the power and goodness of God. Those shields of gold were set in the temple and testified to God’s work in and through David.

i. God loves to take people and things that are “trophies” for the devil and make them trophies to His power and grace.

4. (9-14) The glory of David’s kingdom.

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued; from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

a. Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him: Neighboring nations saw the hand of God on David and brought him honor and gifts. They knew that a strong, godly leader of Israel was good for the whole community of nations, not just good for Israel itself.

i. Not every pagan nation surrounding Israel was hostile to Israel or their God, and David did not treat them as if they were hostile. We make a mistake if we treat every unbeliever as an openly hostile enemy of the LORD.

b. King David also dedicated these to the LORD: When David received this acclaim from the nations he dedicated it all to the LORD. He knew that the praise and glory belonged to God, not himself. David could handle success as well as apparent failure.

c. From Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek: By citing these subdued nations we learn that David’s victories were complete. God used David to lead Israel to victory over enemies in every direction.

i. Israel possessed more of the land God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) under David’s reign than at any other time.

ii. David was able to accomplish so much against God’s enemies because he, unlike Saul, was not consumed with fighting against the people of God.

d. The LORD preserved David wherever he went: This is the summary of this whole chapter. Every victory and every enemy subdued was a testimony to the LORD’s preserving power in the life and reign of David.

B. David’s administration.

1. (15) A general description of David’s government.

So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.

a. So David reigned: This chapter of victory, blessing, and prosperity describes the national life of Israel during the reign of David. This is one reason why he is generally regarded as the greatest king or ruler Israel ever had.

i. This is how God wanted to reign in the life of Saul, but Saul resisted the LORD and rejected His Spirit. Because David allowed God to subdue him, the nations were subdued before David.

b. David administered judgment and justice to all his people: This shows that David was a great king to his own people, not only against neighboring nations. He fulfilled what is the fundamental duty of government – to administer judgment and justice (Romans 13:1-7).

2. (16-18) Key people in David’s government.

Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

a. Joab…Jehoshaphat…Zadok…Ahimelech…Seraiah…Benaiah: No great ruler succeeds by himself. Only the smallest organizations are governed well without a gifted and committed team. Part of David’s success as a ruler was found in his ability to assemble, train, empower, and maintain such a team.

i. We never find such a list regarding the organization of King Saul’s government. This is because David’s government had much more form and structure than Saul’s.

ii. There is a limit to what we can be and what we can do for the LORD without order and organization. It isn’t that order and organization are requirements for progress in the Christian life; they are progress in the Christian life, helping us become more like the LORD.

iii. Nothing is accomplished in God’s kingdom without working through order and organization. While it may seem so, it is only an illusion. Behind the scenes, God is moving with utmost order and organization, though sometimes we cannot see it.

b. The Cherethites and Pelethites: These were hired soldiers from Crete. “By employing foreign guards to ensure the safety of the king David would minimize the possibility of becoming the victim of inter-tribal rivalries; these men from Crete could give whole-hearted allegiance to him.” (Baldwin)

© 2022 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com

Tweet
Pin6
Share8
14 Shares
Bible Commentary Quick Navigation
Start Here!

Old Testament

Gen Exo Lev Num Deu Jos Jud Rut 1Sa 2Sa 1Ki 2Ki 1Ch 2Ch Ezr Neh Est Job Psa Pro Ecc Son Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan Hos Joe Amo Oba Jon Mic Nah Hab Zep Hag Zec Mal

New Testament

Mat Mar Luk Joh Act Rom 1Co 2Co Gal Eph Phi Col 1Th 2Th 1Ti 2Ti Tit Phm Heb Jam 1Pe 2Pe 1Jo 2Jo 3Jo Jud Rev
Back

Genesis

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Back

Matthew

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Back

Mark

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Back

Exodus

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Back

Leviticus

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
Back

Luke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Back

John

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Back

Numbers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Back

Deuteronomy

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
Back

Acts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Back

Romans

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Back

Joshua

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 20 21 22 23 24
Back

Judges

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Back

1 Corinthians

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Back

2 Corinthians

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Back

Ruth

1 2 3 4
Back

1 Samuel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Back

Galatians

1 2 3 4 5 6
Back

Ephesians

1 2 3 4 5 6
Back

2 Samuel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Back

1 Kings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Back

Philippians

1 2 3 4
Back

Colossians

1 2 3 4
Back

2 Kings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Back

1 Chronicles

1 2 3 4 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Back

1 Thessalonians

1 2 3 4 5
Back

2 Thessalonians

1 2 3
Back

2 Chronicles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Back

Ezra

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Back

1 Timothy

1 2 3 4 5 6
Back

2 Timothy

1 2 3 4
Back

Nehemiah

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Back

Esther

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Back

Titus

1 2 3
Back

Philemon

1
Back

Job

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
Back

Psalm

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150
Back

Hebrews

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Back

James

1 2 3 4 5
Back

Proverbs

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Back

Ecclesiastes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Back

1 Peter

1 2 3 4 5
Back

2 Peter

1 2 3
Back

Song of Solomon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Back

Isaiah

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66
Back

1 John

1 2 3 4 5
Back

2 John

1
Back

Jeremiah

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
Back

Lamentations

1 2 3 4 5
Back

3 John

1
Back

Ezekiel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Back

Daniel

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Back

Revelation

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Back

Hosea

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Back

Joel

1 2 3
Back

Amos

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Back

Obadiah

1
Back

Jonah

1 2 3 4
Back

Micah

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Back

Nahum

1 2 3
Back

Habakkuk

1 2 3
Back

Zephaniah

1 2 3
Back

Haggai

1 2
Back

Zechariah

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Back

Malachi

1 2 3 4

Subscribe

* indicates required
Get Prayer Requests and Updates from David Guzik
Receive David Guzik's Weekly Devotional
Special Emails: Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers

Enduring Word YouTube Channel

The Post

local-view-digital-marketing-september-2022-ad

Latest Blog Posts

  • Thankful for a Problem ChurchThankful for a Problem ChurchMarch 5, 2023 - 7:33 pm
  • The Glory of Everyday BelieversThe Glory of Everyday BelieversFebruary 26, 2023 - 10:24 pm
  • What the Strong Should DoWhat the Strong Should DoFebruary 19, 2023 - 7:42 pm
© Copyright - Enduring Word       |      Site Hosted & Maintained by Local View Digital Marketing    |    Privacy Policy
Scroll to top

Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details.

Privacy PolicyOK

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy
Accept settingsHide notification only