2 Samuel 8 13

2 Samuel 8:13 kjv

And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

2 Samuel 8:13 nkjv

And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.

2 Samuel 8:13 niv

And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

2 Samuel 8:13 esv

And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

2 Samuel 8:13 nlt

So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

2 Samuel 8 verses

2 Samuel 8 13 Meaning

2 Samuel 8:13 highlights David's significant military achievements and his resultant fame. After a decisive victory, identified as being over the Edomites in the geographically strategic Valley of Salt, David's reputation as a powerful and successful king was firmly established throughout the region. This particular campaign, leading to the defeat of eighteen thousand men, was a crowning moment in his early reign, solidifying the boundaries and security of his kingdom, demonstrating God's blessing upon his rule, and contributing to the fulfillment of God's promises regarding the expansion of Israel's territory.

2 Samuel 8 13 Context

2 Samuel chapter 8 provides a concise summary of David's military victories that consolidated and expanded the nascent kingdom of Israel. It directly follows Chapter 7, where God establishes a covenant with David, promising an eternal dynasty and a secure dwelling for His people, implying triumph over their enemies. This verse, 2 Samuel 8:13, details one of the culminating campaigns in this period of conquest, solidifying David's authority not only over neighboring peoples like the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians of Zobah (Aram-Zobah), but specifically highlights the strategic victory over the Edomites. Historically, this victory would have secured Israel's southern borders, provided access to vital trade routes, and potentially rich mineral resources from the Arabah. The text's emphasis on David "getting a name" underscores the ancient Near Eastern understanding of royal success being tied to military prowess and territorial expansion, though within the biblical narrative, such success is attributed to the Lord's preserving power and promises.

2 Samuel 8 13 Word analysis

• And David got him a name: (וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִד שֵׁם - wayya‘as dawid shem)
  • wayya‘as: "And he made" or "achieved." From the verb ‘asah (עָשָׂה), meaning "to do, make, accomplish." Here, it signifies the act of establishing or acquiring.
  • dawid: "David." The anointed king of Israel, central to God's redemptive plan.
  • shem: "name," but more broadly, "reputation," "fame," "renown," or "character." To "make a name" signifies achieving a lasting and significant reputation, as seen in Gen 11:4 or Prov 22:1. Here, David's military victories solidify his regal standing and national esteem.
• when he returned from smiting of the Syrians: (בְּשׁוּבוֹ מֵהַכּוֹתוֹ אֶת־אֲרָם - bəšūvō mēhakkōwtōw ’et-’Aram)
  • bəšūvō: "in his returning." Indicates the timing of his renowned achievement—upon completing this specific campaign.
  • mēhakkōwtōw: "from his striking down" or "from his smiting." From the verb nakah (נָכָה), "to strike, smite, beat, kill." This emphasizes a decisive and powerful defeat.
  • ’Aram (אֲרָם): This is where a significant textual variant exists. While the Masoretic Text (MT) has "Aram" (Syrians), many scholars and versions (e.g., NIV, ESV) read "Edom" (’Edom, אֱדוֹם). This is due to the striking similarity between the Hebrew letters daleth (ד) and resh (ר), which could easily be interchanged by scribal error.
• in the valley of salt: (בְּגֵי מֶלַח - bəgēy melakh)
  • gēy: "valley" or "ravine." Often denotes a deep, narrow wadi.
  • melakh: "salt." The "Valley of Salt" is generally identified with the Arabah, a significant geological depression south of the Dead Sea. This region was known for its salt deposits and was strategic territory belonging to Edom. Its association with Edom, rather than Aram/Syria, strengthens the argument for "Edomites" as the intended enemy.
• being eighteen thousand men: (שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף אִישׁ - shmônâ ‘asâr ’eleph ’îsh)
  • shmônâ ‘asâr ’eleph ’îsh: "eighteen thousand men." This large figure emphasizes the scale and significance of David's victory, highlighting the overwhelming defeat of the enemy forces. The parallel passage in 1 Chr 18:12 confirms this number explicitly referring to Edomites, reinforcing the reading of "Edom" here. The difference from Ps 60's "twelve thousand" might imply different phases of the battle or separate engagements attributed to David's broader campaign in Edom, potentially initiated by his generals Joab or Abishai.

Words-group analysis:

• "And David got him a name": This phrase underlines the establishment of David's authority and prestige, not just militarily but nationally and regionally. It speaks to the fulfillment of God's earlier promise to David (2 Sam 7:9) that He would make him a great name. David's victories were seen as divine affirmation of his rule.
• "returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt": The geographical and ethnic identification here is key. The textual variant between "Syrians" (Aram) and "Edomites" is highly significant. The consistent biblical witness and geographical sense favor "Edomites" being the defeated party in the Valley of Salt, reinforcing the belief in a scribal error. This victory secured access to crucial southern routes and territory, a significant strategic gain.
• "being eighteen thousand men": This number indicates a major battle and a comprehensive defeat. It is not a skirmish but a decisive routing of a formidable opposing force, demonstrating David's military strength and God's powerful support for his kingdom.

2 Samuel 8 13 Bonus section

• The geographical location, the Valley of Salt, often identified as part of the Arabah, south of the Dead Sea, emphasizes the strategic importance of this victory. Controlling this region would grant access to the Red Sea via Elath, crucial for trade and resources.
• While David "got him a name," the overarching narrative of 2 Samuel consistently portrays God as the true source of David's victories and success, making his name great as part of the covenant promise. This subtle yet powerful theological statement highlights divine sovereignty over human achievement.
• The Psalm 60 superscription, mentioning "twelve thousand" Edomites and associating the victory with Joab and David, further enriches the context. It likely refers to the same overarching campaign, indicating different perspectives or phases of the battle, but crucially ties the theological response of prayer and praise directly to this military triumph. This emphasizes that Israel viewed these victories through a lens of divine intervention, leading to worship and dependence.

2 Samuel 8 13 Commentary

2 Samuel 8:13 caps a series of David's victories, underscoring his ascent to unparalleled fame and establishing the territorial dominance of his kingdom. This verse particularizes his triumph over a formidable army in the strategic Valley of Salt, a victory that gained him international renown. The pivotal detail regarding the defeated enemy as "Syrians" in some texts versus "Edomites" in others is a significant point of scholarly discussion, with strong biblical evidence from 1 Chronicles 18:12 and Psalm 60's superscription pointing to the Edomites as the correct identification. Regardless of the textual variant, the core message remains: David's kingship was Divinely favored, marked by extraordinary military success and expansion. This wasn't merely a testament to David's skill, but to the Lord's faithfulness in enabling His chosen king to consolidate power and establish a secure, extensive realm as promised. It laid the foundation for Israel's golden age under David, allowing him later to prepare for the building of God's house.