Chapter Eight

David’s wars with the Philistines, Moabites, King Hadadezer of Zobah, and the Syrian Damascenes. The establishment of Hebrew power in Edom.

2 Samuel 8:1. After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah from the hands of the Philistines. David’s future organizing work in the religious and civic life of the people required complete security of the state from without. Metheg-ammah – is the same as Gath (1 Chr 18:1). See note to (1 Sam 6:17).

2 Samuel 8:3. And David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his dominion at the river [Euphrates]; The location of the kingdom of Zobah is generally placed northeast of Damascus, between the rivers Orontes and Euphrates.

2 Samuel 8:7. And David took the golden shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. [These were later taken by Shishak, king of Egypt, during his invasion of Jerusalem in the days of Rehoboam son of Solomon.] See (2 Chr 12:1-11).

2 Samuel 8:9. And Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, Hamath – on the river Orontes, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the northern borders of Palestine.

2 Samuel 8:13. And David made a name for himself, returning from the defeat of eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. The parallel passage in (1 Chr 18:12) reads as follows: “And Abishai son of Zeruiah defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand.” This fact, together with the circumstance that the preceding verses make no mention of the defeat of eighteen thousand Syrians (verses 4–5 give different numbers), leads us to suppose that (2 Sam 8:13) refers not to the preceding but to the following – verse 14 – and that instead of Syrians we should read Edomites here. “And David made a name for himself”, that is, he became famous.

2 Samuel 8:16. And Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army; and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Joab, Abishai and Asahel were nephews of David through his sister Zeruiah. “Jehoshaphat... was the recorder.” “The remarkable events that filled David’s reign, the multitude of people to whom the king had to pay attention, the multitude of matters requiring oversight and decision – all required written records and gave rise to a special state office – that of the recorder, chronicler and secretary of the king” (Y. Bogorodsky, “Hebrew Kings”, p. 171).

2 Samuel 8:17. Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was the scribe; See note to (2 Sam 6:17). “Ahimelech son of Abiathar.” See note to (1 Sam 21:1).

2 Samuel 8:18. and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander over the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief officials. The Kerethites and Pelethites are understood to be the personal honorable guard and bodyguard of the king. “David’s sons.” See (2 Sam 3:2-5).