15 David’s Further Conquests

In Second Samuel chapter 7, we’re shown David’s grateful and worshipful attitude, for God’s covenant with Him, which promised that the Lord would establish an everlasting house for him.

The chapter also showed how the Lord promised to give him peace from his enemies:

2 Samuel 7:1

However, in chapter 8, we find David once more winning several military victories against Israel’s enemies. Which shows that God’s promise for rest, referred to both the short period of time around God’s proclamation of the covenant, as well as to when David’s son Solomon would succeed him on the throne.

In First Chronicles, we see that the Lord considered (and had established) David as “a man of war”, therefore it was not the Lord’s intent for David to leave out his days in peace:

1 Chronicles 28:3

1 Defeating Major Foes

Since David understood that the “rest from the enemies” wouldn’t come about unless many of those enemies were defeated, David set out establishing his next military campaign:

2 Samuel 8:1-2

The first targeted enemy were Israel’s long-standing nemesis, the Philistines.

David understood that he would have to constantly battle against that enemy, which seemed undeterred in their desire to destroy Israel.

It is for that reason, that most Bible expositors look upon the Philistines as a “type” of Satan, the Christian’s unrelenting enemy.

The second enemy David mounted a campaign against was the Moabites.

However, he employed interesting tactics against this particular nation. While he didn’t hesitate in going to war against them, he spared one-third of those captured.

The reason, was probably because David’s great-grandmother Ruth, was from Moab, which caused him to show mercy to them.

2 Defeating the Arameans

2 Samuel 7:3-8

This group targeted by David were a loosely aligned confederation of various city-states, which had aligned approximately at the same time Saul had become Israel’s first king.

Israel won decisive victories, and were able to capture a great amount of treasure after the battles:

2 Samuel 8:4

Before David and his troops were able to return to Israel, the Syrian army attacked them, desiring to avenge David’s attack of the Arameans in Zobah.

Despite the Syrian attack, the Israelites prevailed, killing 22,000 Syrians.

David then established military outposts in Syria, thus becoming an occupying military force, and consigning the Syrians to paying tribute to Israel.

3 Greater Recognition

2 Samuel 8:9-14

After seeing the effectiveness of Israel’s armies against fellow Aramean armies, Toi the king of Hamath decided to capitulate, and had his son greet and honor David with a great many valuable treasures.

On one hand, he was showing both fear of, and respect for David. However, Toi and Hadadezer one of the other Aramean kings had been warring between themselves. Thus David’s defeat of Hadadezer, personally benefited Toi, who was also showing his appreciation to David.

While David received the gifts, he showed his great humility, and understanding that it was the Lord who had granted the victories, as he then dedicated everything to God:

2 Samuel 8:11-12

David then set up more military outposts throughout the areas in which he had been victorious.

Most Hebrew manuscripts refer to the area as Aram, while both the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and other manuscripts refer to it as “Edom”.

4 David’s Administration

The chapter concludes with the names and the positions of those men who served under David:

2 Samuel 8:15-18