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2 Samuel

About this book
Chapter 8

1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah from the Philistines. 2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River. 4 David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but 100 of the chariot horses. 5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 7 David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities, King David took a great deal of bronze. 9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, 12 including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. This also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah. 13 David became famous when he returned from defeating the Edomites in the Valley of Salt; he defeated 18,000 in all.⁠ 14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned. 15 David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was scribe; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.

Texts in conversation

Compare 2 Samuel 8:12 and Psalm 60:2

Hebrew Bible

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Summary

2 Samuel 8 presents David's defeat of surrounding nations, including Edom, as a decisive victory, noting that he dedicated the treasures he gained. In contrast, Psalm 60 recalls the Edom campaign as a time of struggle and setback.

Passages

2 Samuel 8:12

Hebrew Bible
10 he sent his son Joram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, 12 including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. This also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah. 13 David became famous when he returned from defeating the Edomites in the Valley of Salt; he defeated 18,000 in all. 14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected David wherever he campaigned.
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in 2 Samuel

Psalm 60:2

Hebrew Bible
1 For the music director, according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have rejected us. You suddenly turned on us in your anger. Please restore us! 2 You made the earth quake; you split it open. Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall. 3 You have made your people experience hard times; you have made us drink intoxicating wine. 4 You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

"... The last and climactic oracle predicts the destruction of Moab and other enemies. It completes the 3 + 1 pattern whereby the last of a triad is enhanced by the addition of a fourth member. For other biblical examples, see Amos 1:3-2:6 and Proverbs 30:18-19, 29-31. The mention of Edom and the Sethites is unanticipated, but the function of these oracles is the confirmation and fulfillment of the patriarchal blessings of Genesis 25:23 and 27:29, in which the overthrow of Edom is a prominent theme. In Genesis 27:29 - if the Sethites refer to all the nomadic groups descended from Abraham (Genesis 25:1-18) - Jacob / Israel is promised dominion over all his kinsmen. According to Ibn Ezra and many moderns, this prophecy refers to King David, who conquered Moab and Edom, as mentioned in 2 Samuel 8:2-14, 1 Kings 11:15–16, and Psalms 60:2-10 ..."
Jacob Milgrom, Numbers: The Traditional Hebrew Text with the New JPS Translation (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1990), 206.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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2 Samuel 8:12 and Psalm 60:2

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