2 Samuel 8
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 8
NJB (MT versing) David's Triumphs David's Further Conquests Summary of David's Wars David's Military Victories David's Wars 8:1 8:1-2 8:1 8:1 8:1-2 8:2 8:2 8:2 8:3-8 8:3-8 8:3-8 8:3-4 8:3-8 8:5-8 8:9-12 8:9-14 8:9-12 8:9-12 8:9-12 8:13-14 8:13-14 8:13-14 8:13-14 David's Kindness to Mephibosheth The Administration of His Kingdom The Administration of the Kingdom 8:15-18 8:15-18 8:15-18 8:15-18 8:15-18 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This is the summary chapter of David's successful military battles Philistines, vv. 1,12 Moab, vv. 2,12 Zorab (an Aramean kingdom in southern Syria), vv. 3-4,12 Syria, vv. 5-6 Ammon, v. 12 Amalek, v. 12 Edom, v. 14 David's collection of valuables for the building of the Temple (v. 1) tribute from Moab, v. 2 tribute from Syria, v. 6 shields of gold from Zorab, v. 7 large amount of copper from two cities of Zorab, v. 8 silver, gold, and bronze from the king of Hamath, vv. 9-10 (1 Chr. 18:8 says Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars along with some temple implements from this bronze) List of the royal and priestly servants of David over military ‒ Joab, v. 16 recorder ‒ Jehoshaphat, v. 16 Zadok, High Priest, v. 17 Ahimelech, High Priest, v. 17 secretary ‒ Seraiah, v. 17 over David's special guard ‒ Benaiah, v. 18 David's sons were called "chief ministers," v. 18 David was successful because YHWH was with him, v. 6. The geographic size of David's kingdom was increasing to the north, west, and east.
2 Samuel 8:1
8:1 "the chief city" The Philistine-controlled area was basically five city-states on the coastal plain and their surrounding area. Ashkelon Ashdod Gath Ekron Gaza The 1 Chr. 18:1 parallel names the "chief city" as Gath. The NET Bible makes this phrase a place name, "Metheg Ammath" (BDB 607 CONSTRUCT BDB 52 I), which is literally "the bridle of the mother city" (phrase found only here).
2 Samuel 8:2
8:2 "Moab" The small kingdom on the eastern bank of the Jordan developed from one of Lot's daughters (cf. Gen. 19:30-38). In 1 Samuel 22 Moab is friendly with David but now there was conflict. Modern scholars know nothing about this method of a terrible slaughter of former friends. The parallel in 1 Chr. 18:2 does not have this passage.
2 Samuel 8:3-8
8:3 "Zobah" An Aramenian kingdom north of Damascus, Syria (Aram) in the time of David (see ABD, vol. 6, p. 1108; The MacMillan Bible Atlas Map #104). It is called "Aram-zobah." It was attacked by Saul in 1 Sam. 14:47. ▣ "the River" This designation usually refers to the Euphrates River (cf. 1 Chr. 18:3). The Masoretic scholars suggested the inclusion of the name here (LXX, Peshitta, Vulgate). 8:4 For a brief discussion of the different numbers of this verse and its parallel in 1 Chr. 18:4, see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, p. 184. ▣ "horsemen" Usually in contexts where chariots are mentioned, this term (BDB 832) refers to the riders in two man chariots. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARIOTS ▣ "hamstrung the chariot horses" This meant cutting the tendon in one back leg (cf. Josh. 11:6,9). The horses could still be used for agriculture (no record of this) but not for military service. Why David did this is uncertain. Joshua had done it to show his reliance on God, not military weaponry. Israelites did not use or keep horses for agriculture, so it may have been a cost saving procedure to simply remove them from ever being used in battle again. 8:6 "tribute" This was a tax gift given to those who controlled the area. ▣ "the Lord helped David wherever he went" This phrase is repeated in v. 14. It was not David's personal skills that brought victory but YHWH's presence and purpose for Israel. 8:7 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "the shields" JPSOA footnote, DSS, Targums "quivers" "bracelets" This NOUN (BDB 1020, KB 1522) in Akkadian means "quiver," as it probably does here (cf. Jer. 51:11). Decorative, possibly ceremonial box cases are pictured in wall reliefs from Mesopotamia. ▣ The LXX has an addition which has now been confirmed by a Dead Sea text of 2 Samuel. "And Sousakim, King of Egypt, took them when he went up to Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam son of Solomon."
2 Samuel 8:9-12
8:9 "Toi king of Hamath" This is another small kingdom or city-state in Syria, north of Zobah, that had been at war with Zobah. 8:10 "Joram" The 1 Chr. 18:10 parallel has "Hadoram." The UBS Text Project, p. 224, gives the MT, "Joram" a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The UBS Handbook for Translators, p. 783, makes a good point (i.e., my summary of its words): "Joram means 'Jahweh is exalted,' while 'Hadoram' is probably a shortened form of Hadadram (1 Chr. 18;14), which means 'Hadad is exalted.' It is unlikely that a non-Israelite name meant 'Praise YHWH.'" 8:11 "King David also dedicated these to the Lord" Even though David could not build the temple, he provided the plans, materials (from Hiram) and financial resources for it. 8:12 NASB, NKJV "Syria" NRSV, TEV, REB, JPSOA, LXX, Peshitta "Edom" NJB, JPSOA footnote "Aram" The MT has "Aram" (BDB 74) but several Hebrew MSS and ancient versions have "Edom." The names are very close in Hebrew. The UBS Text Project, p. 224, gives "from Edom" a "C" rating (considerable doubt) but supports the MT. The same problem reoccurs in v. 13 but with no Hebrew MSS support. Note the parallel in 1 Chr. 18:11 also has "Edom."
2 Samuel 8:13-14
8:13 "So David made a name for himself" This is a fulfillment of 2 Sam. 7:9. ▣ "the Valley of Salt" Today this is the area of the Dead Sea. It refers to the "the Jordan Rift Valley." 8:14 "Edom" SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL.
2 Samuel 8:15-18
8:15 "justice" This NOUN (BDB 1048) is a common word in the OT. It primarily relates to judgment according to the standards of YHWH (i.e., the Mosaic Covenant). Often Israel's kings served as judges for some cases, just as Moses had done (cf. Genesis 18). SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, and JUSTICE IN ISAIAH ▣ "righteousness" This NOUN (BDB 842) is another term so common in the OT. It has a wide semantic field but primarily deals with the standard of YHWH's character. For both of these special covenant NOUNS (probably a hendiadys, i.e., having a combined meaning), the key was that Israel's leaders were to deal with the people as YHWH Himself would deal with them (i.e., in fairness but with mercy). SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS 8:16 "recorder" It is uncertain the difference between "recorder" (BDB 269) and "secretary" (BDB 708, v. 17). It does show that many in David's day could write (see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 49) and did record contemporary events. 8:17 During David's life there were two High Priests. Zadok's genealogy is given in 1 Chr. 6:4-8 (see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1300-1302). Ahimelech is the sole survivor of the slaughter of the priests (i.e., descendants of Eli) at Nob by Saul's command (cf. 1 Samuel 22). Ahimelech will support the rebellion of Absalom, David's son, and be exiled by Solomon. Jeremiah is of the line of Ahimelech. There is a textual problem in the lineage of "Zadok." The parallel in 1 Chr. 18:16 is probably the correct genealogy, but there is no Hebrew MS evidence in 2 Samuel. The names of his ancestors seem to be reversed or there was another person by that name in the list. 8:18 "was over" This VERB is not in the MT. It comes from the Aramaic Targums, the Peshitta, and the Vulgate. Notice NKJV has it in italics. The VERB is present in the 1 Chr. 18:17 parallel. ▣ "the Cherethites and the Pelethites" These were non-Israelites who were either part of David's militia but separate from the regular army vassal led military forces called in when needed (cf. 2 Sam. 10:19) The name implies they were Aegean people like the Philistines but not to be identified completely with Israel's traditional enemy (cf 2 Sam. 15:18). ▣ NASB, NKJV "chief ministers" NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "priests" "chiefs of court" "princes" The MT has "priests" (BDB 463). Even though David may have done some priestly acts (i.e., sacrifice, blessing, approaching the ark), he was not of the tribe of Levi, family of Moses and Aaron. The parallel in 1 Chr. 18:17 uses a different word (BDB 388 CONSTRUCT BDB 572 I) translated by NASB as "chiefs at the king's side." 2 Samuel 20:23-26 is a repeat of the information here. Verse 26 has "and Ira the Jairite was also a priest to David." David's sons and their status, rank, title are not even mentioned. Josephus, Antiq. 7.5.4, does not mention "priests" but has "His elder sons were near his body, and had the care of it also." This strange quote shows Josephus did not understand the phrase as "priests."