2 Samuel 8
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 8
Guzik - 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. NET NOTE on Metheg-ammah - Heb “the bridle of one cubit.” Many English versions treat this as a place name because the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:1 reads “Gath” (which is used by NLT here). It is possible that “the bridle of one cubit” is to be understood as “the token of surrender,” referring to the Philistine’s defeat rather than a specific place (cf. TEV, CEV). Alan Redpath - “The thing that fascinates me about this complete victory is the utter contempt with which David treated the great power of his adversaries.” (ED: I would add that he was surely able to do so because he was confident that the LORD was with him!) 2 Samuel 8:2 He defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute. BGT 2 Samuel 8:2 καὶ ἐπάταξεν Δαυιδ τὴν Μωαβ καὶ διεμέτρησεν αὐτοὺς ἐν σχοινίοις κοιμίσας αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐγένετο τὰ δύο σχοινίσματα τοῦ θανατῶσαι καὶ τὰ δύο σχοινίσματα ἐζώγρησεν καὶ ἐγένετο Μωαβ τῷ Δαυιδ εἰς δούλους φέροντας ξένια LXE 2 Samuel 8:2 And David smote Moab, and measured them out with lines, having laid them down on the ground: and there were two lines for slaying, and two lines he kept alive: and Moab became servants to David, yielding tribute. KJV 2 Samuel 8:2 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. NET 2 Samuel 8:2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute. CSB 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute. ESV 2 Samuel 8:2 And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. NIV 2 Samuel 8:2 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. NLT 2 Samuel 8:2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David's subjects and paid him tribute money. NRS 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those who were to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. NJB 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie on the ground, measured them off by the line; he measured out two lines to be put to death and one full line to have their lives spared. The Moabites became David's subjects and paid him tribute. NAB 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated Moab and then measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. He told off two lengths of line for execution, and a full length to be spared. Thus the Moabites became tributary to David. YLT 2 Samuel 8:2 And he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put to death, and the fulness of the line to keep alive, and the Moabites are to David for servants, bearers of a present. GWN 2 Samuel 8:2 He also defeated Moab, made the Moabites lie down on the ground, and measured them with a rope. He measured two lengths which were to be killed, and one length which was to be spared. So the Moabites became David's subjects and paid taxes to him. BBE 2 Samuel 8:2 And he overcame the Moabites, and he had them measured with a line when they were stretched out on the earth; marking out two lines for death and one full line for life. So the Moabites became servants to David and gave him offerings. He defeated Moab: Nu 24:17 3:29,30 1Sa 14:47 Ps 60:8 83:6 108:9 measured: 2Sa 12:31 And so: 2Sa 8:6,12-14 2Ki 1:1 3:4-27 1Ch 18:2 brought gifts: 1Sa 10:27 2Ch 26:8 Ps 72:10,11 Isa 36:16 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 18:2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute. Numbers 24:17 (A PROPHECY OF DEFEAT OF THE MOABITES) “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. DAVID DEFEATS MOABITES ON EAST He defeated Moab - Moabites were descendants of Lot (Ge 19:36–38) and their land was on the EASTERN border of Israel posed constant military (and religious threat - pagan, idolatrous worship) to Israel (Nu 25:1-3; Jdg 3:12-30; 1Sa 14:47). It is interesting to recall that previously (probably some 10-20 years before) David had taken his parents to live in Moab to be safe from King Saul (see 1Sa 22:2-4+) Recall also that David had Moabite blood from his great grandmother Ruth the Moabitess (Ru 4:13-21), but this did not prevent him from attacking and defeating the Moabites. And measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive - While this may seem vicious, the truth is that in the ancient near east in many cases all the captured enemy forces were annihitated, but here David actually spares one third.
2 Samuel 8
Guzik - 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. Roberb Bergen - Through a policy that would be highly controversial and universally condemned today, David also eliminated any serious near-term military threat that might have been posed by the Moabites. In his successful campaign against them, David captured a number of prisoners of war. These he made to “lie down on the ground.” Then he “measured them off with a length of cord” and put to death all the prisoners falling under two of every three lengths of cord. No parallels to David’s action against the Moabites exists in Scripture. In spite of all appearances, such an action probably was considered compassionate in contrast to the options of killing all the prisoners or selling them all as slaves to foreign nations. After all, many of David’s enemies were permitted to live and return to their families. David’s decisive action certainly benefited Israel economically because the survivors could return to work the fields of Moab and produce grain and livestock, a portion of which would be sent annually to David’s court as “tribute.” (Borrow 1 & 2 Samuel - New American Commentary) And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute - Those Moabites David spared became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Walton - tribute. When one state or other political entity conquered another or extended hegemony over its affairs, the result was the exaction of tribute payments from the subject people. This could take the form of precious metals (by weight or as jewelry or implements), farm produce (a significant portion of the harvest) or labor service. Not surprisingly, this draining of the economy was unpopular and was generally the reason for revolt or warfare. Extra-biblical documentation for this practice is widespread. For instance, the annals of the Assyrian kings often include lists of items received as tribute: the Black Obelisk inscription of Shalmaneser III (859-824 B.C.) contains Jehu’s tribute to Assyria of silver, gold, lead and hard woods; Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727 B.C.) received elephant hide, ivory, linen garments and other luxury items from his vassals in Damascus, Samaria, Tyre and elsewhere. (Page 334 IVP Background Commentary) 2 Samuel 8:3 Then David defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to restore his rule at the River. BGT 2 Samuel 8:3 καὶ ἐπάταξεν Δαυιδ τὸν Αδρααζαρ υἱὸν Ρααβ βασιλέα Σουβα πορευομένου αὐτοῦ ἐπιστῆσαι τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν ποταμὸν Εὐφράτην LXE 2 Samuel 8:3 And David smote Adraazar the son of Raab king of Suba, as he went to extend his power to the river Euphrates. KJV 2 Samuel 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. NET 2 Samuel 8:3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River. CSB 2 Samuel 8:3 David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ESV 2 Samuel 8:3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. NIV 2 Samuel 8:3 Moreover, David fought Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control along the Euphrates River. NLT 2 Samuel 8:3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. Hadadezer: 1Ch 18:3, Hadarezer Zobah: 2Sa 10:6 1Sa 14:47 1Ki 11:23,24 Ps 60:1 at the river: Ge 15:18 Ex 23:31 De 11:24 1Ki 4:21 Ps 72:8 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 18:3+ David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his rule to the Euphrates River. Psalm 60:1+ For the choir director; according to >Shushan Eduth. A Mikhtam of David, to teach; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us; You have been angry; O, restore us. Genesis 15:18+ On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: Deuteronomy 1:7+ ‘Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. Joshua 1:4+ “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. DAVID DEFEATS ENEMIES IN NORTH Then - Now David "mops up" Israel's enemies on the North (and NE) border from verse 3-8. See Zobah north of Israel in map above. David defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah , as he went to restore his rule (yad = literally "hand") at the River - Hadadezer meant “Hadad (personal name of Canaanite storm god) is my help ('ezer) (cf Israel's "Eben-ezer" - 1Sa 7:12+) He was not much help (!!!) against David because David had the help of Jehovah the only true God (2Sa 8:6, 2Sa 8:14)! Zobah was an Aramean (later called Syria) kingdom north of Damascus and more than 60 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Note that David wrote Psalm 60 was to commemorate this battle. Saul had previously fought against the kings of Zobah (1Sa 14:47) on Israel’s northern border and restore indicates David restored what Saul had controlled only briefly. The River refers to the Euphrates River which was listed as boundary to the land promised to Abraham (see passages above). Walton - NIV’s “control” is the Hebrew word yad for “hand,” which elsewhere refers to a stele or monument with a royal inscription (1Sa 15:12, 2Sa 18:18) being set up here by David. 2Sa 8:13+ speaks of a “name” David makes (NIV “became famous”), which is another way that Hebrew speaks of a monument. Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III (fifteenth century) boasted of the steles they erected on the banks of the Euphrates (Page 334 IVP Background Commentary) August Konkel (in comments on parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 18) adds that "The encounter with Hadadezer king of Zobah, a territory north of Damascus toward Hamath, is introduced immediately following the subjugation of Philistia and Moab (1Ch 18:3). It was the result of an intervention in setting up a monument at the Euphrates River. Kings would set up monuments outside their own territory to represent their presence in territory they controlled. The Euphrates was a natural boundary for such a monument because it separated the northwest from the east. It is not certain whether David or Hadadezer was engaged in setting up the monument, which was north of both of their territories. The inference of the Chronicler, made from 2 Samuel 8:3, is that David was setting up the monument as a testament to his expanded conquests when Hadadezer resisted him. The result was an expanded war with the Arameans (2Sa 8:4–6), which brought about a very significant dominion to the young state. The territory of David now extended to the boundaries of Tou (Toi), king of Hamath, and its territories on the Orontes River (1Ch 18:9–11). The king of Hamath was eager to form an alliance with David since the Israelites effectively ended his conflict with the Arameans to the south. Tou had no desire to engage the military might of David, but he was content to have a secure southern border to his territories. Summary statements are given in verses 6 and 13: The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. These episodes demonstrate the fulfillment of the prophetic promise in 1Ch 17:8–10a. . .David also engaged in destroying the weaponry of the Arameans. The Chronicler tells us that David hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses (1Ch 18:4b). This practice follows the analogy of Joshua 11:6–9, where God requires that the horses be disabled and the chariots burned. In both cases this was to cripple the military of mercenary forces. It may have been a precaution against them being hired again in a military attack, but it also may have been regarded as a stipulation of what is termed holy war. All booty of those battles won by direct divine intervention belonged to God and could not be used as plunder [War in Chronicles, p. 481]. In Joshua 11:6 the spoils of war at Hazor were regarded as profane (ḥalalim) for Israel, a categorization that always carries moral implications. NET NOTE- The Masoretic Text does not have the name “Euphrates” in the text. It is supplied in the margin (Qere) as one of ten places where the Masoretes believed that something was “to be read although it was not written” in the text as they had received it. The ancient versions (LXX, Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate) include the word. See also the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:4. F B