(11)
2 Samuel 2—24
(5)
Scripture Reading: 2 Sam. 8; 2 Sam. 9; 2 Sam. 10
We have seen that David was first crowned by the tribe of Judah (2:1—4:12) and later was crowned by all the other tribes (5:1-5). Then he was established by God as king with his kingdom exalted for the sake of God's people Israel (vv. 6-25). David's care for God's habitation on the earth is seen in his taking care of the habitation of the ark of God (ch. 6) and in his wanting to build a house for God (ch. 7). Chapters eight through ten are concerned with David's conquest over his enemies for the strengthening of his kingdom.
David struck the Philistines and subdued them, taking control of the chief city out of the hand of the Philistines (8:1).
David struck Moab, putting their grown-up ones to death and keeping their younger ones alive. The Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute to him (v. 2).
In his conquest over Zobah and Syria (vv. 3-8), David struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, and took from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help the king of Zobah, David struck 22,000 men among the Syrians. The Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. From this we see that "Jehovah preserved David wherever he went" (v. 6b).
David was congratulated by Toi king of Hamath for his fighting against the king of Zobah (vv. 9-10).
David consecrated to Jehovah his spoils from all the nations, articles of gold, silver, and bronze (vv. 11-12).
Verses 13 and 14 speak of David's conquest over Edom. He put garrisons throughout all of Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to him.
In verses 15 through 18 we have a word concerning David's reign in justice and righteousness. Verse 15 says, "So David reigned over all Israel, and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people." At that time Joab was over the army; Jehoshaphat was recorder; Zadok and Ahimelech were priests; and Seraiah was scribe. Benaiah was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites (the body guard and the runners), and David's sons were his advisers.
Chapter nine is a record of David's showing kindness to Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan.
In verse 1 David asked, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show kindness to him for Jonathan's sake?" David felt obliged to show kindness, for the sake of Jonathan, to any remaining descendant of the house of Saul.
A servant of the house of Saul, whose name was Ziba, was called to David, and David asked him, "Is there yet anyone at all of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" (v. 3a). The servant told him that there was still a son of Jonathan, one who was crippled in his feet. When Mephibosheth came to David, David told him not to be afraid, for he would surely show kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan his father. David went on to tell him that he would restore to him all the land of his father Saul and that he would eat food at his table continually (v. 7). Mephibosheth paid homage to David and said, "What is your servant that you should look upon a dead dog like me?" (v. 8).
David gave all that belonged to Saul and to all his house to Mephibosheth, making Ziba and his household servants to Mephibosheth. David also asked Mephibosheth, who had a young son and who was crippled in both feet, to dwell in Jerusalem and eat at the king's table continually (vv. 9-13). This was the fulfillment, on David's side, of the covenanted love between him and Jonathan.
Chapter ten is a record of David's further conquest.
David tried to show kindness to Hanun the king of Ammon by sending word through his servants to comfort Hanun concerning his father, who had died (vv. 1-2). However, Hanun insulted the servants of David by shaving off half their beards and cutting away half their garments at the buttocks (vv. 3-5). Seeing that they had become odious to David, the children of Ammon hired soldiers of the Syrians and men of Maacah and Tob (v. 6). When David heard of this, he sent Joab and all the host of mighty men. The men of Israel defeated the Ammonites, Syrians, Maacathites, and Tobites (vv. 7-14).
The Syrians beyond the Euphrates helped the Syrians from Syria to fight against Israel (vv. 15-16). David defeated all the Syrians, and all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer king of Syria made peace with Israel and served them (vv. 17-19). From this we see that David was altogether victorious, that the surrounding enemies were defeated or subdued, and that many brought tribute to David.
