2 Samuel 8 12

2 Samuel 8:12 kjv

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 8:12 nkjv

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.

2 Samuel 8:12 niv

Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Samuel 8:12 esv

from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Samuel 8:12 nlt

from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek ? and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Samuel 8 verses

2 Samuel 8 12 Meaning

2 Samuel 8:12 comprehensively lists the nations and entities from which King David collected significant spoils of war and tribute following his victorious military campaigns. These entities, namely Aram (including Zobah under Hadadezer), Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, represent the key enemies of Israel from all strategic directions whom David subdued, thereby consolidating his kingdom and dedicating their acquired wealth to the Lord, as stated in the preceding verse.

2 Samuel 8 12 Context

2 Samuel chapter 8 is a pivotal account of David's military successes and the consolidation of his kingdom after he had established Jerusalem as his capital and brought the Ark of the Covenant there. This chapter describes David defeating the surrounding nations and subjugating them, securing his borders, expanding his influence, and amassing considerable wealth from their spoils and tribute. Verse 11 explicitly states that David dedicated all these acquired treasures to the Lord. Verse 12 then precisely lists these subdued entities. This series of victories demonstrates God's fulfillment of His covenant promises to David, providing rest from his enemies and establishing his kingdom. Historically and culturally, accumulating tribute and dedicating spoils were common practices for ancient Near Eastern monarchs, yet David's act emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty and his unique role as God's chosen king, paving the way for the future building of the Temple in Jerusalem from these very resources.

2 Samuel 8 12 Word analysis

• from (מִן, min): A Hebrew preposition indicating origin, source, or derivation. Here, it denotes that the treasures mentioned were derived from or out of the territories and people of these conquered nations. It signifies the direct result of military subjugation.

• Aram (אֲרָם, ’Ărām): Refers to the Aramean kingdoms, specifically those conquered by David. The context in 2 Sam 8:3-8 points primarily to Aram-Zobah and later Aram-Damascus, powerful entities located northeast of Israel. Their defeat marked a significant expansion of Israelite control.

• and Moab (וּמוֹאָב, ûmô’āḇ): A traditional Transjordanian enemy nation located east of the Dead Sea. David decisively subjugated Moab (2 Sam 8:2), making them a vassal state.

• and the Ammonites (וּבְנֵי עַמּוֹן, ûḇnê ‘Ammôn): Literally "and sons of Ammon." A nation east of the Jordan, often hostile to Israel. While a detailed account of their subjugation appears later in 2 Samuel 10, their inclusion here summarizes David's comprehensive military triumph over his neighbors, either by initial encounter or anticipating the full victory.

• and the Philistines (וּפְלִשְׁתִּים, ûPəlištîm): Israel's long-standing coastal enemies to the west. David inflicted a decisive blow (2 Sam 8:1), capturing key towns like Gath, which greatly diminished their threat and secured Israel's western border.

• and from Amalek (וַעֲמָלֵק, wa‘Ămālēq): A nomadic, ancient, and persistent enemy of Israel (since Exodus 17) whose eradication was divinely commanded (Deut 25:19). David continued the holy war against them, building on Saul's earlier efforts (1 Sam 30), securing Israel's southern flank.

• and from Hadadezer (וַהֲדַדְעֶזֶר, waHădad‘ezer): The most powerful Aramean king of Zobah. His name means "Hadad (a pagan deity) is help." David's victory over Hadadezer (2 Sam 8:3-8) was his greatest triumph in the north, yielding immense wealth (gold shields, bronze) and control over critical trade routes stretching to the Euphrates River.

• son of Rehob (בֶן־רְחֹוב, ben-Rəḥôḇ): Denotes Hadadezer's lineage or connection to the region of Beth-rehob, emphasizing his significant royal standing.

• king of Zobah (מֶלֶךְ צוֹבָה, melek Ṣôḇāh): Zobah was a prominent Aramean state in northern Syria, whose extensive influence made Hadadezer a formidable regional power. His defeat by David effectively solidified Israel's hegemony.

• Words-group by Words-group analysis:

  • "from Aram and Moab and the Ammonites and the Philistines and from Amalek": This enumeration of disparate nations demonstrates the extensive geographical reach of David's military victories. It signifies the establishment of secure borders for Israel against its traditional enemies from all cardinal directions: Aram to the north, Moab and Ammon to the east, Philistines to the west, and Amalek to the south. This symbolizes God's provision of "rest from all his surrounding enemies" (2 Sam 7:11).
  • "and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah": The specific and detailed naming of Hadadezer emphasizes the monumental nature of this victory. Zobah was not a minor state, but a significant regional power. David's triumph over such a formidable king underscores his God-given strength and establishes his dominion over a strategically vital area that extended to the Euphrates River, thereby nearly fulfilling the promised Abrahamic boundaries (Gen 15:18). This victory brought considerable strategic advantages and resources.

2 Samuel 8 12 Bonus section

The massive amount of bronze and gold brought back from the defeat of Hadadezer (2 Sam 8:7-8) was immensely significant. This bronze, stated as being "more than could be weighed" (1 Chron 18:8), would be specifically set aside by David and later used by Solomon for constructing many of the Temple vessels, pillars, and the great bronze altar (1 Kgs 7:15, 23, 27; 1 Chron 22:14, 16). Thus, the very spoils of war against Israel's enemies became instruments for God's worship and the beautification of His dwelling place, demonstrating how God can turn conflict into contributions for His kingdom. This emphasizes a theological truth: God can use any circumstance, even military conquest, to advance His divine purposes and to build His sacred dwelling.

2 Samuel 8 12 Commentary

2 Samuel 8:12 serves as a catalog of King David's decisive victories against Israel's formidable neighbors, completing the account of his military conquests and the consolidation of his vast kingdom. The explicit listing of Aram, Moab, Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalek emphasizes the comprehensive nature of David's subduing of the surrounding nations. This was not merely an accumulation of spoils, but a divinely orchestrated process through which David secured his kingdom and brought peace. Crucially, as detailed in verse 11, all this vast wealth was dedicated to the Lord, affirming David's recognition of God as the ultimate source of his power and victories. These dedicated spoils of silver, gold, and bronze would later contribute significantly to the building of Solomon's Temple, thereby linking David's military successes directly to the establishment of the central place of worship for Yahweh. The chapter depicts a Golden Age of Israelite power and prosperity, rooted in divine favor and David's obedience to dedicate the fruit of his endeavors back to God.

• Example for Practical Usage: Just as David dedicated his material gains to the Lord, believers are called to consecrate their blessings, talents, and resources, whether material wealth or personal abilities, back to God's service and glory, recognizing Him as the ultimate provider (Col 3:23).