In The Course Of Time Series

March 07, 2026

Our new section begins with the words, “in the course of time,” indicating that the events that follow did not happen all at once, but over a period of time.

2nd Samuel 8 and 1st Chronicles 18 mirror each other, recording David’s military successes and introducing us to his cabinet:

David defeated the Philistines and the Moabites - they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

David fought Hadadezer, king of Zobah, capturing 1000 chariots, 7000 charioteers and 20,000 foot soldiers. When the Arameans of Damascus made the mistake of coming to the aide of Hadadezer, David struck down 22,000 of them. They became subject to him and brought him tribute.

The gold shields that had belonged to the officers of Hadadezer were brought Jerusalem and David took from the towns of Tebah and Berothai a great quantity of bronze.

So happy was Tou king of Hamath that Hadadezer’s entire army had been defeated (Hadadezer had been at war with Tou) that he sent his son Joram with silver, gold and bronze along with a note of congratulations to David.

David took Tou’s gift and added it to the growing collection of loot he had dedicated Yahweh from the nations he had subdued: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites and Hadadezer.

David became famous after he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt and all the Edomites became subject to him.

Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went and he reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

Joab was over the army;

Jehoshaphat was recorder;

Zadok and Ahimelech were priests;

Seraiah was secretary;

Benaiah was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;

David's sons were royal advisers.

2nd Samuel 9 is a break in David’s military activities. He wonders if there are any surviving members of Saul’s family, which made me wonder if Michal was now dead. We never hear from her again after chapter 6 and we don’t know how many years elapse between chapters 6 and 9, but it seems strange for David to ask that question if she was still living.

ANYWAY …. David desired to show kindness to any remaining family of Saul.

An old servant of Saul’s, Ziba, was found and he confirmed that there was one relative still alive – Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, who was a cripple.

David brought Mephibosheth to Jerusalem.

He was understandably nervous, but David was thrilled to see him.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said. “I would like to show you kindness because your father was my friend. I am going to restore your family’s land to you and I will give you a permanent place at my table.”

David put Ziba and his family in charge of the land and Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem and ate at David’s table as one of his sons (1st Chronicles does not mention this story).

Now back to war…..

“In the course of time,” Nahash, king of Ammon died. David sent envoys to console the new king, Hanun, but the princes of Ammon suggested to him that David’s men were really there to spy out the land – they were up to no good. Instead of being grateful for David’s consolation, Hunan took David’s servants, shaved ½ their beards and cut off their robes “at the buttocks” then sent them home. The men are understandably humiliated and David sent word for them to go to Jericho until their beards grew back.

When the Ammonites realized that all they had done was poke the Lion, they went looking for allies. They hired 32,000 chariots/charioteers from Aram, Naharaim, Aram Maacah and Zobah – King Maacah joined the fight, bringing his army along (see Psalm 60).

The Ammonites were now mustered and ready for battle…. Israel’s army went to meet them - Joab took the Arameans and Abishai took the Ammonites.

When the Ammonites saw that Arameans were fleeing, they fled too. Joab went back to Jerusalem. However, the Arameans regrouped on the other side of the Jordan River, so David gathered his army and crossed the Jordan. The Arameans fled but not before David killed 7000 (1 Chronicles 19:18) or 700 (2 Samuel 10:18) of their charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. They made peace with David and were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

That brings us to 2 Samuel 11 and 1 Chronicles 20 – they begin the same way, “In the spring, when kings go off to war, David sent Joab and the whole the whole Israelite army out to fight the Ammonites. Israel destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” However, 1st Chronicles 20 only addresses the military victories that occurred at that time:

After Rabbah was destroyed, the golden crown of her “king” (likely a reference to their god Milcom) – which was set with precious stones and reported to have weighed a talent (75 lbs.) – was placed on David’s head. David took a great deal of plunder and consigned the people of the city to slave labor – this he did in all the Ammonite towns.