David has settled in as king of all Israel. But there are still enemies....
2 Samuel 8:1-4, Philistines, Moabites and Zobahites defeated
In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.
Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
This passage reports, without apology, the violence of ancient Near East warfare, including the massacre of prisoners and maming of horses.
(NIV footnotes: In verse 4, there are discrepancies in the ancient texts. The Masoretic Text says that David captured seventeen hundred charioteers.)
2 Samuel 8: 5-8, Arameans defeated
When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
David defeats the Arameans to the northeast and puts up garrisons. Wherever David goes, he is given victory, collects tribute and brings it to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 8: 9-12, Prince Joram congratulates David
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze.
King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
King Tou offers David tribute and David devotes it to YHWH, presumably through a treasury of some type. David also dedicates plunder from other victories.
2 Samuel 8: 13-18, Garrisons built, officers appointed
And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were royal advisers.
The theme of this chapter is in verse 14: "The LORD gave David victory wherever he went,"
(NIV footnotes; In verse 13 there are discrepancies in ancient texts; most Hebrew texts have Arameans in place of Edomites.)
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