David Conquers More

David continued with his conquests of the surrounding nations and subdued many of them. Among those David subdued or became servants and brought tribute were Moab and Edom. Toi, king of Hamath sent his son Joram bearing gift and blessing to David for defeating their enemy Hadadezer, king of Zobah. Syria which allied with Zobah was defeated severely by David which brought him more fame as his army destroyed over 20,000 Syrians. In addition, the Philistines, Ammon and Amalek were also defeated.

Unlike earlier wars when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land, God did not command Israel to completely wipe out her present enemies. As David won the battles, more bounty and treasures were captured and David kept these for the dedication to the LORD.

This chapter also list the ministry of David's government. Joab kept his position as commander of the army even though he murdered Abner, Jehoshaphat was the recorder / historian, Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar the priest who previously helped David, became priest along with Zadok.



2 Samuel 8

David’s Further Conquests

 1 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.
2 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.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred[a] horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from Betah[b] and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
9 When Toi[c] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram[d] 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. 11 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— 12 from Syria,[e] 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.
13 And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians[f] in the Valley of Salt. 14 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.

David’s Administration
 
15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah[g]was the scribe; 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.