2 SAMUEL LESSON 9
We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 8:1 "And after this it
came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and
David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines."
The war with the Philistines was a never- ending battle front. It
seemed, they would defeat them in one place, and then there was
another place to fight them. "Metheg-ammah" means the bridle of the
mother city. This city is the same as the city of Gath, where David
had run to for refuge, when Saul was after him. David had already
defeated the other four prominent cities. With the defeat here, now,
David would have control of the whole land. The LORD fought on the
side of David, or he would not have been able to defeat this strong
city.
II Samuel 8:2 "And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line,
casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to
put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the
Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts."
It appears that, David ordered at least half, and perhaps two-
thirds, of the Moabites killed. The others became servants to David.
The gifts were for saving their lives. Some of the historians believe
David killed these people, because they had killed David's mother and
father, when they ran there for safety from Saul. I do not find that
in the Bible, however. It could be so, and that would answer why so
much blood was shed here.
II Samuel 8:3 "David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob,
king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river
Euphrates."
Hadadezer was the Armenian king of the state of Zobah. David led
the battle against them, and he was utterly destroyed.
II Samuel 8:4 "And David took from him a thousand [chariots], and
seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed
all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an hundred
chariots."
The number of chariots shows, that Hadadezer was strong
militarily. David kept only one hundred of the horses of the enemy
here. It would be much faster travel with the horses, than on foot.
This means that they cut the hamstrings on 900 horses. This seems a
terrible thing to do to the horses. They would not be able to walk.
They would just lie down and die. The 20,000 men were either taken
captive, or killed.
II Samuel 8:5 "And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour
Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men."
"Succour" means protect, aid or help. This 22,000 is in addition
to the 20,000 above. This is part of the reason David was known as a
bloody king.
II Samuel 8:6 "Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and
the Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts. And the
LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."
Those, who were not killed in the massacre, became servants of
David. The Syrians were allowed to stay on their land and work, but
they had to pay tribute to David. The garrisons were outposts of
strength, to keep them from raising an army against David.
II Samuel 8:7 "And David took the shields of gold that were on
the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem."
There had to be an abundance of gold, for the servants to have
gold. This was spoil from the battle, that David took home.
II Samuel 8:8 "And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of
Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass."
This is believed to be the same brass, that was used in the
temple to make the laver. Solomon and David had much brass, gold and
silver.
II Samuel 8:9 "When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had
smitten all the host of Hadadezer,"
Toi was like many of the kings of the smaller countries, here.
Hedadezer had them all under the yoke of his rule. David delivered
them, when he defeated him.
II Samuel 8:10 "Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to
salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer,
and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram] brought
with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of
brass:"
This wonderful offering of precious metals was in appreciation to
David for ridding them of their oppressor.
II Samuel 8:11 "Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD,
with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he
subdued;"
King David dedicated these precious metals to the LORD, and they
would be used in the fine things in the temple, that Solomon builds to
the LORD.
II Samuel 8:12 "Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of
Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of
Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah."
These are some of the people defeated by David, and spoiled of
their precious metals, which were dedicated to the LORD for the use in
the temple.
II Samuel 8:13 "And David gat [him] a name when he returned from
smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen
thousand [men]."
The battles, we just read about, were hardly over, when the
Edomites attacked them. On the way back, they battled and killed
18,000 more in the valley of salt near the Dead Sea. This made quite a
reputation for David. David's victories were, because the LORD was
with him.
II Samuel 8:14 "And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all
Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants.
And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."
This is the same as we read about earlier. David allowed them to live
in their own homes, and do their regular work. They had to pay tribute
to David, however. David left soldiers in the garrisons, to see that
they did pay tribute.
II Samuel 8:15 "And David reigned over all Israel; and David
executed judgment and justice unto all his people."
We know that David knew his power was of God. He would be just,
and would judge fairly, remembering that he would some day be judged
of God himself.
II Samuel 8:16 "And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host;
and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder;"
This was speaking of the officers of David, who took care of
these jobs for him. This would have been a time of great prosperity
for David and his men that worked for him.
II Samuel 8:17 "And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the
son of Abiathar, [were] the priests; and Seraiah [was] the scribe;"
Zadok was of the line of Eleazar. Zadok, at a later time, will be
thrown out and Abiather will replace him. At the time this was
written, they were both priests. Seraiah was a scribe, which could be
compared to a modern secretary of state.
II Samuel 8:18 "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both
the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief
rulers."
David had many sons, and they, also, had plenty to rule over.
David was king of all Israel, but also, had defeated the Philistines
and the countries around them. This meant there were many places,
where these sons of David could actively rule as subordinate to David.
The Cherethites and the Pelethites were small countries of people, who
were basically Philistines. Benaiah and Jehoida were over them.
2 Samuel 9 Questions
1. Who does David attack in verse 1?
2. What does "Metheg-ammah" mean?
3. What is another name for Metheg-ammah?
4. Why was David so successful in these wars?
5. Who did David measure with a line, to determine who would live?
6. The Moabites who lived became David's _________.
7. Why do some historians believe that David killed these Moabites?
8. Why did the living bring gifts to David?
9. Hadadezer was an ___________ king.
10. How many chariots did David take from Hadadezer?
11. What does "houghed" mean?
12. How many horses did David keep for himself?
13. Who came to their rescue?
14. What does "succour" mean?
15. How many of the rescuers were killed?
16. David put ____________ in Syria of Damascus.
17. The Syrians became __________ of David.
18. The Syrians were allowed to stay on their land and work, but they
paid __________ to David?
19. Whose shields of gold did David take?
20. Where did David take exceeding brass from?
21. Who sent his son to king David to salute him?
22. Who had Toi been fighting against?
23. What did Toi send David as gifts?
24. Why did he send David gifts?
25. What did David do with these precious metals?
26. Who are listed, in verse 12, that David defeated?
27. How many Edomites did David kill at the valley of salt?
28. What did David do with the other Edomites?
29. David executed __________ and ________ unto all his people.
30. Who was Joab?
31. Who was recorder?
32. Who were priests to David?
33. What would a scribe be compared to in our society?
Home