2 Samuel 8 2

2 Samuel 8:2 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 8:2 nkjv

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.

2 Samuel 8:2 niv

David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

2 Samuel 8:2 esv

And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

2 Samuel 8:2 nlt

David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David's subjects and paid him tribute money.

2 Samuel 8 verses

2 Samuel 8 2 Meaning

Second Samuel 8:2 describes King David's decisive military victory over the Moabites. It details a severe and methodical act of subjugation where the population was divided, likely by a measured count or portion, resulting in two-thirds being executed and one-third being spared. As a result of this comprehensive defeat, the Moabites became tributaries, serving David and regularly bringing tribute to his kingdom.

2 Samuel 8 2 Context

This verse is situated within a summary chapter (2 Samuel 8) detailing David's major military conquests after establishing his rule in Jerusalem. It outlines his victories over various neighboring nations – the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, and Edomites – signifying the fulfillment of God's promise to establish David's kingdom and extend its boundaries. Historically, the Moabites were perpetual antagonists of Israel, tracing back to Lot's incestuous relationship (Gen 19) and known for oppressing Israel (Judg 3), opposing their passage during the Exodus (Num 22-25), and hiring Balaam to curse them. David's parents even found refuge in Moab during his time of flight from Saul (1 Sam 22:3-4), making this extreme measure against them particularly notable and possibly indicative of a prior act of betrayal or hostility by Moab against David or Israel not explicitly recorded. This victory serves as a demonstration of Israel's ascendance and God's favor upon David's rule, contrasting sharply with the earlier fragmented and threatened state of Israel. It serves as a polemic against the idea that other nations' gods could protect them from the power of the Lord through His chosen king, David.

2 Samuel 8 2 Word analysis

• And he defeated Moab: Hebrew: וַיַּךְ מוֹאָב (vay-yach Mo'av). "Vay-yach" (וַיַּךְ) from the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning to strike, smite, beat, or kill. This denotes a decisive military victory resulting in a devastating blow to Moab. It indicates David's divinely appointed strength against a historically problematic nation.
• and measured them with a line: Hebrew: וַיְמַדְּדֵם בַּחֶבֶל (vay-mad-de-dem ba-chevel).
  • "Vay-mad-de-dem" (וַיְמַדְּדֵם) from root מדד (madad), meaning to measure, stretch out, or quantify. The doubled 'd' indicates an intensive or repetitive action. This implies a deliberate, methodical, and precise selection or apportionment of the captured Moabites. It's not a random act of violence, but a calculated decree.
  • "Ba-chevel" (בַּחֶבֶל) from חֶבֶל (chevel), meaning a rope, cord, or measuring line. It can also refer to a lot, a portion of land (as in 'our lines have fallen in pleasant places' in Ps 16:6), or even a 'band' or 'company'. Here, it clearly functions as an instrument of measurement or division, marking specific groups. Its use highlights the precise nature of David's decree.
• making them lie down on the ground: Hebrew: הַשְׁכֵּב אוֹתָם אָרְצָה (hash-keiv o-tam ar-tzah). This emphasizes the total subjugation and humiliation of the Moabites. They are rendered helpless and prone, entirely at David's mercy, preparing them for the "measurement."
• and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive: Hebrew: וַיְמַד שְׁנֵי חֲבָלִים לְהָמִית וְחֶבֶל מָלֵא לְהַחֲיֹת (vay-mad sh'nei chavalim l'hamit v'chevel maleh l'hachayot). This is the core of the verse's severity.
  • "L'hamit" (לְהָמִית) from the root מות (mut), meaning to die; here in the Hiphil form, it means "to cause to die" or "put to death."
  • "L'hachayot" (לְהַחֲיֹת) from the root חיה (chayah), meaning to live; here in the Hiphil, "to cause to live" or "preserve alive."
  • The "two lines" (שְׁנֵי חֲבָלִים) vs. "one full line" (וְחֶבֶל מָלֵא) indicates a two-thirds to one-third ratio. The word "full" (מָלֵא - maleh) for the spared portion might imply that this specific third was fully constituted or specifically chosen for preservation. This deliberate proportion points to David's absolute control over their lives and deaths, an act of sovereign judgment reflecting ancient Near Eastern warfare practices, but also perhaps divine endorsement for a particular reason, such as previous Moabite transgressions or a desire to ensure thorough, yet not total, pacification.
• So the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute: Hebrew: וַתְּהִי מוֹאָב לְדָוִד לַעֲבָדִים נֹשְׂאֵי מִנְחָה (va-t'hi Mo'av l'David la-avadeem no-s'ei min-chah). This is the immediate and lasting outcome of David's victory and judgment.
  • "La-avadeem" (לַעֲבָדִים) from עֶבֶד (eved), meaning servant or slave. It signifies their total submission and loss of national independence.
  • "No-s'ei min-chah" (נֹשְׂאֵי מִנְחָה) means "bearing gifts" or "bringing tribute." Tribute was a mandatory payment, often annual, symbolizing ongoing submission and dependence. This ensured Moab would contribute to Israel's economy and not rise against David again.

2 Samuel 8 2 Bonus section

The treatment of Moab by David, though harsh, was not unique in the context of ancient warfare or even within the divine commands given for specific nations in the Bible. However, it stands out because David had previous connections to Moab (Ruth being his ancestor, and his parents seeking refuge there). This suggests a severe provocation or deeply rooted historical animosity from Moab, potentially a fulfillment of earlier prophetic pronouncements against Moab. The fact that a portion of the Moabites was spared distinguishes this action from the total annihilation commanded against other nations like Amalek, indicating that this act, while stern, included an element of judgment balanced with future servitude. This pattern of a destructive blow followed by subservience and tribute marked David's foreign policy and divine favor upon his reign, setting the stage for the unified and strong Israelite kingdom under Solomon.

2 Samuel 8 2 Commentary

David's decisive victory over Moab, involving the "measuring" with a line, represents a profound act of divine judgment executed through a human king. The text deliberately emphasizes the methodical nature of the extermination, distinguishing it from an uncontrolled slaughter. The precise two-thirds to one-third ratio for execution versus preservation reveals David's authority and determination to neutralize a persistent threat to Israel's security, turning them into subjugated vassals who paid regular tribute. While severe, it was a common strategy in ancient Near Eastern warfare to ensure loyalty and prevent future rebellion. For a nation that had shown recurring enmity against God's people and potentially betrayed David in the past, this comprehensive subjugation, ordained by God, solidified Israel's boundaries and established David's divinely backed dominion as king, making it a critical step in establishing the secure Davidic kingdom.