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2Samuel
CHAPTER 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. 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.

David has been given "rest" from the enemies which were before so bold against Israel. They no longer attacked offensively. And now, David sets out to complete what God had begun under Joshua: to completely take hold of all the land of Canaan.
The first of those places to be conquered was the city to which David had fled and sought refuge under King Achish -- Gath, of the Philistine country. It is called Methegammah here. David totally subdued the Philistines. The Southewest portionof the country was now safe.
Then David moved toward the Moabite country. There he fulfilled the prophecy in Numbers 24:17, "..a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth."
Here we are told David measured them with two lines: one for death, and one for mercy. Two-thirds of all the warriors were killed, while one-third were saved to till the land and be subjects of Israel. Now the East portion of the country was safe.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 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. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 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. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

Now David moved to the North to secure the borders of Israel there. He conquered Hadadezer (king of Zobah) and set the boundaries of Israel in the North next to the Euphrates River. Verse 4 tells us David rendered all the chariot horses useless except 100 which he reserved for his own use.
From Damascus, the Syrian forces tried to help Hadadezer, but David killed 22,000 of their men (verse 5). This was a great victory. Then he put forts in Syria (verse 6) and reduced the Syrians to servants.
A very important statement is seen in the last line of verse 6, "And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went."
David was blessed of God as a warrior and leader of a tremendous army. Whereas Saul could not do these things because "..the spirit of the Lord departed from him." David was able to accomplish these things only because God was with him.
Verses 7-8 tell us of the "spoils of war." David secured some proud warriors' shields of gold, and took a tremendous amount of brass. The value of these things helped to secure Israel's future.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 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: 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; 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. 13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

King Toi sent presents of gold and silver to David to befriend him. He had been an enemy of Hadadezer and was glad that David had conquered him. Thus more money went into the treasury to finance the kingdom of David and to build for the glory of God.
David also dedicated all the gold and silver he had taken from the other nations he had conquered. It might be said that ALL this gold and silver went into the treasury of THE LORD. Thus it was to God's glory and from God that all the finances were given. And a tremendous amount was saved for the building of Solomon's temple later.
As is always the case, one man prepares for another to build that the glory may be to God.
As Paul said, "I have planted, Apollos watered, but GOD gave the increse" (1Corinthians 3:6).

There is something to be learned from this. David is blessed of God because he is doing what God has commissioned him to do.
Christians, if we want to be blessed of God we should be out conquering spiritually by telling others of Jesus.

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

David fulfilled the prophecy of Numbers 24:18 by conquering the Edomites. "And Edom shall be a possession,..Seir shall be a possession, and Israel shall do valiantly." He also put forts of protection in their country and reduced them to servants.
Verse 15 is a wonderful statement. This shepherd who was made to be king "executed judgment and justice to all his people." David was a just and fair king because he had a heart to serve God and to serve the people.
It is important to note that the man who had killed another in vengeance is restored and placed at the head of all the armies of David (Joab).
Zadok and Abiathar served as priests. I believe this tells us that David held their counsel in high esteem and valued and cherished their friendship and prayers.
The Cherethites and Pelethites were David's personal army (according to Nelson's Bible Dictionary).
Benaiah was the chief of this army (bodyguard?). He was a truly loyal servant. Later we will see that when Absalom tried to steal the kingdom, Benaiah remained faithful to David. And even later, when Adonijah tired to take the kingdom away from Solomon, Benaiah was faithful to his king. Benaiah is the one who executes Joab and Adonijah for their treachery in revolting against Solomon. Later he becomes chief of all Solomon's armies.

Here are some lessons:
1) When God is with us we can fight tremendous battles and be "..more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans 8:37).
2) We should let God have control of all our finances.
3) Remain faithful in all God has called you to do, and to whom God has ordained as leaders.
4) War is an unpleasant thing. But the war of carrying the gospel to all the world is what God has commissioned us to do. It is not a war of hate, blood and murder. It is a war of TELLING the TRUTH. And the next generation cannot have peace if we aren't diligent in fulfilling our commission from God.
We ourselves cannot have the abundant life Jesus promised if we aren't fulfilling our commission.

" Matt 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

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