2 Samuel 8: 1 – 18
Why the flip flop?
8 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So, the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute. 3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. 5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— 12 from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went. 15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
Today’s title is ‘Why the flip flop?’ Let me tell you up front that I am not talking about a beach shoe. Flip means turn over or cause to turn over with a sudden sharp movement. Flop means total failure. Together the words ‘Flip-flop’ is an expression meaning: to suddenly change one's point of view on an issue due to a total failure of a prior decision.
We learn in the book of 1 Samuel chapter 22 that “David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So, when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So, he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. 3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.”
We have learned that king Saul was constantly seeking to kill David. After fleeing David was joined by his parents and brothers who were also vulnerable to Saul’s wrath.
The country of Moab was the home of David’s great grandmother, his father’s grandmother, Ruth. It is likely over time that the relatives visited and that there was good will between the families. Additionally, Orpa, Ruth’s sister-in-law, parted with Ruth and Naomi on good terms and her descendants would also know of this family. Further, like Naomi and her husband, many Jewish people left Bethlehem during the famine and traveled to Moab. Not all would have returned after having established lives there, so there was likely a Jewish community in Moab.
Jewish tradition claims that moving his parents to Moab was a huge and painful mistake and that David’s parents and brothers were eventually killed in Moab, which would explain why David as we will read in this chapter aggressively destroyed Moab after his reign over all of Israel was established.
So why would Moab kill David’s family? (If it did occur, which seems likely since David would not just flip flop in his thinking and attack the place where his family and relatives were living, especially if they had provided well for them.) This was a time when ‘the kings went to battle’ every spring. Having a large family group, with military men in it (remember, David’s brothers were part of Saul’s army), who were related to a foreign king (remember, David was married to Saul’s daughter and was prophesied to be the next king) meant that they could be plotting, with the rest of the displaced Jewish population living there, to take over the kingdom. A paranoid king, which many were for good reason, could not let this happen.
It is extremely likely therefore, that tradition is correct and David’s parents (and possibly his brothers as well) were killed in Moab and that David’s rage against the Moabites makes sense.
In this passage David’s victories against all his enemies are described, commencing with his taking of ‘the bridle of the mother city (1 Chronicles 18.1 makes clear that this mother city was Gath) out of the hands of the Philistines’. In other words, he became overlord over the city to which he had previously been a vassal, the mother city that was seen as in control over all the other Philistine cities. From this point on all of Philistia was in submission to him.
The passage will then come to its conclusion with a picture of his overall successful reign, for, in the final analysis, the reason why Yahweh has given him success was so that he might rule justly over God’s people. Taking the enemy’s bridle in hand was a picture of the enemy’s submission, the idea being that the enemy’s horse was now being led by the bridle.
8 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
The first stage was to turn the tables on the Philistines. He had previously been their vassal or hired mercenary. But their warlike maneuvers had now justified his attacking Philistia and bringing it under his own control.
The taking of the bridle of the mother city out of the hands of the Philistines is a vivid description of his taking control of them. To take someone’s bridle meant that you had taken them prisoner and brought them under your control. You led them by the bridle. The mother city is seen in 1 Chronicles 18.1 as referring to "Gath and her daughters". This may suggest that Achish was the senior lord of the Philistines and thus a kind of presiding leader over the council of five, his submission being the submission of them all.
2 Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So, the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.
David was so victorious over the Moabites that he had taken a huge number of prisoners. As they were prostrate on the ground before their victors. David took two thirds of them and put them to death and merciful let the rest live.
3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates.
David also smote the local empire-builder Hadadezer, king of Zobah with his arrogance and pretensions to greatness. The name of Hadad-ezer meant ‘Hadad is my help’
4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand-foot soldiers. Also, David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.
this may have signified with David only keeping the best of the chariot horses enough for a smaller chariot unit. The men with suitably responsive talents as mercenaries.
5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousands of the Syrians.
When the Aramaeans of Damascus came to the rescue of the Aramaeans of Zobah they too were soundly beaten, with the result that they lost twenty two military units. David’s mighty men with their accompanying troops were proving mightily effective because the Spirit of YHWH was continually with David..
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
After their defeat David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Aramaeans became vassals of David, and began to pay tribute. And we are then informed that it was not only the Aramaeans who were defeated, for David was given the victory by Yahweh wherever he went. No one could stand before his attacks.
7 And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Having defeated Hadadezer David then proceeded to strip his kingdom of its riches. The highlight of these riches were the shields of gold borne by Hadad-ezer’s bodyguard. And all this valuable spoil was brought to Jerusalem to be presented before Yahweh, and put in the treasury.
8 Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.
Further rare metals was obtained from Hadad-ezer’s other cities, such as Betah and Berothai, although in this case of the lesser metal, bronze.
9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze.
When the news of David’s victories reached the ears of Toi, king of Hamath he sent his son Joram to David to salute him (probably in homage) and to show his gratitude towards him. David’s activity had relieved the pressure on his country, for Hadad-ezer had been continually harassing Hamath and threatening Toi. Toi clearly saw a treaty of friendship with David as a better option. Thus, his son brought to David an appreciation gift. It consisted of silver, gold and bronze. All this silver, gold and bronze would be stored up by David to be used in the building of the Temple
11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— 12 from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
All these items David dedicated to Yahweh, the architect of his victories, along with the silver and gold of all his other victories. He had thus gained victories in the North (Aram), the East (Moab and Ammon), the West (Philistia), and the South (Amalek). None could stand before him, and all paid tribute to him. And in most cases David had not been the initial aggressor.
13 And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.
Some countries, however, continued to try to take on David’s forces, and the result was that David was able to make a name for himself by defeating eighteen units of combined Aramaean and Edomite strength in the Valley of Salt which was on the southern borders of Judah.
14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
The consequence of the Aramaean/Edomite invasion was that David retaliated by subduing Edom and setting up garrisons throughout the land, with the result that the Edomites became his vassals, and would, of course, pay tribute.
15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people.
The prime aim of David’s efforts, and the great name that he had attained, had been in order that YHWH might establish a righteous state for the benefit of His people, a kind of Kingdom of God. Thus, having brought rest from war, and having safely established Israel in peace and security, David now reigned over them as Yahweh’s representative in justice, equity and mercy.
16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.
Both David’s greatness and his administrative flair is brought out in his appointees. He appointed Joab as general over his army, Jehoshaphat (otherwise unknown) as his recorder, historian and chancellor, Zadok and Abiathar’s son, Ahimelech, as his (High) Priests, Seraiah as his Scribe, and Benaiah as commander over his bodyguard. But above all he established his own sons as ‘ministers’ or as we can say ‘rulers’ over vassal governments. They would be the rulers of the countries that had submitted to David’s rule.
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