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2 SAMUEL 8

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. This is the summary chapter of
   1. David's successful military battles
      1. Philistines, vv. 1,12
      2. Moab, vv. 2,12
      3. Zorab (an Aramean kingdom in southern Syria), vv. 3-4,12
      4. Syria, vv. 5-6
      5. Ammon, v. 12
      6. Amalek, v. 12
      7. Edom, v. 14
   2. David's collection of valuables for the building of the Temple (v. 1)
      1. tribute from Moab, v. 2
      2. tribute from Syria, v. 6
      3. shields of gold from Zorab, v. 7
      4. large amount of copper from two cities of Zorab, v. 8
      5. 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)
   3. List of the royal and priestly servants of David
      1. over military ‒ Joab, v. 16
      2. recorder ‒ Jehoshaphat, v. 16
      3. Zadok, High Priest, v. 17
      4. Ahimelech, High Priest, v. 17
      5. secretary ‒ Seraiah, v. 17
      6. over David's special guard ‒ Benaiah, v. 18
      7. David's sons were called "chief ministers," v. 18
   
   
2. David was successful because YHWH was with him, v. 6.
   
   
3. The geographic size of David's kingdom was increasing to the north, west, and east.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:1
  ¹Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

8:1 "the chief city" The Philistine-controlled area was basically five city-states on the coastal plain and their surrounding area.

1. Ashkelon
2. Ashdod
3. Gath
4. Ekron
5. 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).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:2
  ²He 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.

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.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:3-8
  ³Then David defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to restore his rule at the River. ⁴David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots. ⁵When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 Arameans. ⁶Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. ⁷David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

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.

1. Joshua had done it to show his reliance on God, not military weaponry.
2. 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.

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."

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:9-12
  ⁹Now when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰Toi sent Joram 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, of gold and of bronze. ¹¹King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued: ¹²from Aram and Moab and the sons of Ammon and the Philistines and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

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.

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."

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:13-14
  ¹³So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

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.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:15-18
  ¹⁵So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. ¹⁷Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary. ¹⁸Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.

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

1. part of David's militia but separate from the regular army
2. 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).

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."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was David so cruel in his treatment of Moab, who were his relatives through Ruth, and earlier protected his family during Absalom's rebellion.
2. What do David's victories reveal?
3. What did David do with the gold, silver, and bronze he received?
4. What does doing "justice" and "righteousness" mean?
5. How is the lineage of Zadok confused here?
6. What is the difference between a "recorder" and a "secretary"?
7. Were David's sons priests?

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