20140427 Sunday, April 27 2014
2 Samuel 08: King David's Empire

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The LORD preserved David whithersoever he went"

Israel's greatest time of wealth, military power and peace occurred during the reign of King Solomon (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Solomon). It was not however due to Solomon - who inherited, and then squandered it. Israel's empire was created by Solomon's father King David (see Israel In History and Prophecy: King David) after the Israelite civil war (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Civil War).

The powerful Philistines (see the fact Finder question below) were subjugated by Israel for the first, and only time, by King David.

"8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines." (2 Samuel 8:1 KJV)

David then expanded the existing Israelite territory on the east of the Jordan River (see Numbers 32: The Israel Of East Jordan) by a victory over his Moabite cousins (Ruth was a Moabite; see Ruth 1: Elimelech and Naomi and Ruth 4: The Marriage Of Boaz and Ruth).

"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." (2 Samuel 8:2 KJV)

David then continued the war deep into what is today Iraq (the birthplace of Abraham; see A Biography Of Abraham: The Genealogy Of Abram and A Biography Of Abraham: From Ur To Canaan; see also The LORD's Seed Covenants With The Two Men Of Iraq) and Syria (the birthplace of most of the Israelite patriarchs, including Judah who grew up speaking Syrian; see A Biography Of Jacob: The Jacobites Of Syria and The Syrian Tongue Of Jesus).

"8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

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." (2 Samuel 8:3-4 KJV)

Along with the military victories came great wealth - that Solomon would merely inherit (see A History Of Jerusalem: The Glory Of Solomon).

"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. 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.

8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass." (2 Samuel 8:5-8 KJV)

Further wealth was accumulated by nations paying "tribute" (see also Custom and Tribute) to their Emperor, King David.

"8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 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:

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; 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." (2 Samuel 8:9-12 KJV)

Just as the Egyptians had done before him (and as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans would do after him; see also The Prophet Daniel: Nebuchadnezzar's Image), David established a network of military garrisons throughout the lands that he had "liberated." Israel was no different than any other nation, ancient or modern, when it came to becoming an imperial empire at any time that the opportunity presented itself. "Liberators" very-often become the very same sort of tyrants that they claim to reject.

"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.

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." (2 Samuel 8:13-14 KJV)

In order to keep the empire running, King David established a governmental regime to serve the king. It was the means by which Solomon would gain control over every Israelite citizen - until they rebelled and the cycle began again (see Rehoboam's Answer).

"8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers." (2 Samuel 8:15-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why does the word "Philistine" sound so much like "Palestine?" How did the land of Canaan become known as "Palestine"?
See 1 Samuel 29: Where Is Palestine?