2 Samuel 8 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
roughly 1000-990 BC, the years of David's expansion, summarized rather than told in order
Location
Territory on every side of Israel: Philistia on the coastal plain, Moab and Edom east and south of the Dead Sea, and the Aramean kingdoms of Zobah and Damascus to the north
Audience
Israelites accounting for how a small hill country people briefly controlled the trade corridor between Egypt and Mesopotamia
Situation
A summary of David's campaigns in every direction, listing defeated nations, tribute taken, garrisons placed, and the officials who ran his government.
Key Background
Israel's rise happened in a rare gap when Egypt was weak and Assyria had not yet pushed west, leaving the small kingdoms of the region to fight among themselves. Hamstringing captured chariot horses, mentioned here, disabled an enemy's most expensive weapon system without Israel having to maintain a chariot corps of its own. Lists of officials like the one closing this chapter follow the pattern of court records kept by scribes, and the mention of a recorder, a secretary and a priestly staff shows a working bureaucracy rather than a tribal chief's camp.
Some time later, David the and defeated them. He took control of from the
He also defeated He made them lie down on the ground and them with a — two rope-lengths to be put to death and one full rope-length to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David's and paid him
David also defeated son of Rehob, king of as was on way to along the Euphrates River.
David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. He all the chariot horses, keeping only enough for 100 chariots.
When the of came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 of them.
David then set up in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and paid him tribute. gave David wherever he went.
David took the that belonged to Hadadezer's and brought them to Jerusalem.
From Betah and Berothai, cities belonging to Hadadezer, King David took a huge quantity of
When Toi king of heard that David had defeated Hadadezer's entire army,
Toi sent his son Joram to King David to and on defeating Hadadezer in battle — because Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with items of silver, gold, and bronze.
King David these for as well, along with the silver and gold he had for him from all the nations he had conquered:
from Moab, the the Philistines, and He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
David more when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the of
He set up garrisons and all the Edomites became David's subjects. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went.
David ruled over all Israel, and he and did what was for all his people.
Joab son of Zeruiah was the Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were Seraiah was the
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the and and David's sons were