2 Samuel 8
Berean Standard Bible · Compare translations · 1000 BC – 970 BC · United kingdom · Tap a verse to copy, share or highlight ·
18 verses · 402 words · ~2 min read · ~3 min listen
Davidʼs Triumphs
1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. 4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.
5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men. 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, 11and King David dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— 12from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
Davidʼs Officers
15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:
Footnotes (10)
- a v1 Metheg-ammah means bridle of the mother city.
- b v3 LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate (see also 1 Chronicles 18:3); Hebrew along the River, or an alternate reading along the Euphrates
- c v4 LXX (see also DSS and 1 Chronicles 18:4); MT captured from him seventeen hundred charioteers
- d v8 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Tebah; see 1 Chronicles 18:8.
- e v9 Toi is a variant of Tou; also in verse 10; see 1 Chronicles 18:9.
- f v10 Joram is a variant of Hadoram; see 1 Chronicles 18:10.
- g v12 Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Aram
- h v13 A few Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts Arameans
- i v17 Seraiah is also called Sheva, Shisha, and Shavsha; see 2 Samuel 20:25,1 Kings 4:3,and 1 Chronicles 18:16.
- j v18 Literally priests, or possibly chief officials; see LXX, Targum Yonaton, and 1 Chronicles 18:17.
Study notes on this chapter · 2
Two nations in your womb
Before Jacob and Esau are born, God tells Rebekah that two nations are in her womb and the older will serve the younger. Israel and Edom are the later nations, and David's conquest of Edom is usually seen as a first fulfillment. Malachi and Paul use the pair to speak of God's freedom in choosing; how Paul's argument is best read is disputed among traditions.
When: Genesis (traditionally c. 1900 BC); David's conquest of Edom, c. 1000 BC; Romans, c. AD 57.
Ways people read this (3)
- Paul uses Jacob and Esau to argue for God's sovereign election of individuals (Reformed and related traditions).
- Paul is speaking of God's choice of peoples and their roles in his purposes, not the final destiny of individuals (many Arminian, Orthodox and Catholic readers).
- Malachi's 'love' and 'hate' describe covenant preference in Semitic idiom, not emotion.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.
A star will come out of Jacob
The seer Balaam, hired to curse Israel, instead foresees a star rising from Jacob and a scepter from Israel that crushes Moab and Edom. Jewish and Christian readers have applied it to David, to the Messiah, and to later leaders. Matthew's magi follow a star, and Revelation calls Jesus the bright morning star.
When: Numbers (wilderness period); David subdues Moab and Edom, c. 1000 BC; Matthew, c. AD 60–85.
Ways people read this (3)
- Fulfilled first in David's conquest of Moab and Edom (2 Samuel 8), and in his dynasty.
- Messianic: the king and deliverer to come (as in many early Jewish and Christian writings).
- The star in Matthew 2 may echo the oracle, though Matthew does not cite it.
Editorial note by BibleWay. Interpretations vary; dates are approximate scholarly estimates.