2 Samuel 8:6 kjv
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.
2 Samuel 8:6 nkjv
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
2 Samuel 8:6 niv
He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
2 Samuel 8:6 esv
Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
2 Samuel 8:6 nlt
Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David's subjects and paid him tribute money. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
2 Samuel 8 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:9 | "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you..." | God's protective presence with David |
| 1 Chron 18:6 | "Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD saved David wherever he went." | Parallel account, emphasizing divine preservation |
| 1 Sam 18:14 | "And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him." | Early demonstration of God's consistent favor for David |
| Ps 18:30-36 | "For by You I can run through a troop... The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation!" | David's hymn of thanksgiving for God's deliverance and victory |
| Ps 21:1-6 | "In Your strength the king rejoices, O LORD, and in Your salvation how greatly does he exult!" | God granting strength and victory to the king |
| Ps 144:10 | "who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David his servant from the deadly sword." | God as the ultimate source of royal deliverance and triumph |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..." | Partial fulfillment of Abrahamic land promise |
| Num 24:18 | "Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed, while Israel does valiantly." | Balaam's prophecy of Israel's dominion, exemplified by David's conquests |
| Deut 28:7 | "The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you." | Blessing of victory over enemies for covenant obedience |
| Deut 28:10 | "And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you." | Nations fearing Israel because of God's presence |
| Ps 60:6-9 | "God has spoken in His holiness: 'I will exult, I will divide Shechem and parcel out the Valley of Succoth...'" | Divine promise of triumph and division of conquered lands |
| Ps 110:1-2 | "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.' The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter." | Prophecy of the Messiah's future dominion over all enemies |
| 1 Kgs 4:21 | "Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute..." | Continuation and expansion of dominion begun by David |
| 2 Chron 17:11 | "Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and tribute of silver, and the Arabians also brought him flocks..." | Nations bringing gifts/tribute to a righteous king |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | "I will raise up your offspring after you... and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." | Davidic Covenant, demonstrating God's faithfulness |
| Ps 89:3-4 | "I have made a covenant with My chosen one; I have sworn to David My servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever...'" | Divine oath to uphold David's dynasty and throne |
| Ps 132:11-12 | "The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which He will not turn back: 'One of your own descendants I will set on your throne...'" | God's specific promise regarding David's successor |
| Jer 33:17 | "For thus says the LORD: 'David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.'" | Ongoing assurance of the enduring Davidic line |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High... He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." | Fulfillment in Jesus as the eternal Davidic King |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Principle of divine empowerment for God's servants |
| Zech 4:6 | "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts." | God's Spirit as the ultimate source of victory and enablement |
2 Samuel 8 verses
2 Samuel 8 6 Meaning
This verse succinctly describes a significant victory of King David over Aram-Damascus, emphasizing both his strategic military prowess (placing garrisons) and the submission of the conquered people (becoming servants and paying tribute). Crucially, it attributes David's success not merely to human effort but explicitly to the Lord's preserving and protective hand, signifying divine approval and enablement in his campaigns.
2 Samuel 8 6 Context
This verse is situated in 2 Samuel chapter 8, which details King David's major military victories and administrative organization after he had secured his kingdom in Jerusalem. Following the Lord's establishment of the Davidic covenant in chapter 7, where God promised David an enduring dynasty and His unwavering presence, chapter 8 demonstrates the immediate outworking of these divine blessings. David systematically conquers key surrounding nations: the Philistines (v. 1), Moab (v. 2), Zobah and Damascus (v. 3-8), and Edom (v. 13-14). These conquests solidify Israel's borders, increase its territorial control, secure trade routes, and lead to vast wealth through spoils and tribute. Specifically, the victory over Aram-Damascus in verses 3-6 represents a crucial triumph over a powerful northern rival, extending Israel's influence and showing the Lord's commitment to establish David's kingdom as the dominant power in the region.
2 Samuel 8 6 Word Analysis
Then David: Signifies the immediate action and outcome following David's earlier strategic engagement (v.3-5) and his decisive leadership. David acts as God's chosen instrument.
put garrisons: Hebrew: נְצִבִים (netzi•vim). These were military outposts or appointed officials/governors stationed in the conquered territory to maintain control, enforce submission, and collect tribute. This demonstrates David's administrative skill in securing his conquests for long-term dominion.
in Syria of Damascus: Hebrew: אֲרַם דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Aram Damme•sek). Refers to the powerful Aramean kingdom centered in Damascus, a significant city-state in ancient Syria, known for its strategic location, trade, and military strength. Conquering this region marked a major geopolitical achievement for Israel.
and the Syrians became servants to David: Hebrew: וַיִּהְיוּ לְדָוִד עֲבָדִים (vayihyu l'David avadim). This indicates their complete subjugation and vassal status. "Servants" here means they were tributaries or subjects, obligated to provide service, labor, or economic payment to David's kingdom. This profoundly reversed the regional power dynamics.
and brought gifts: Hebrew: מַגִּישִׁים מִנְחָה (maggishim minchah). "Gifts" or "tribute." This signifies formal submission and acknowledgement of David's overlordship. Such tribute, whether money or goods, contributed significantly to Israel's national wealth, supporting its government and military. This was a common practice for vassal states in the ancient Near East.
And the LORD preserved David: Hebrew: וַיֹּשַׁע יְהוָה (vayosha Yahweh). "Preserved" here carries the sense of 'gave victory,' 'saved,' or 'made victorious.' This is a critical theological statement, emphasizing that David's remarkable success was not solely due to his military genius or might but fundamentally the result of God's active involvement, power, and favor. It connects directly to God's covenant promises to David (2 Sam 7).
wherever he went: Hebrew: בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלָךְ (b'khol asher halakh). This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive, consistent, and pervasive nature of God's protection and successful enablement throughout David's military campaigns and administrative efforts, irrespective of the enemy or challenge. It signifies continuous, unfailing divine assistance.
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: This phrase underscores David's strategic foresight and administrative capability in establishing firm military and political control, securing not just a single battle victory but lasting dominion over a significant region.
and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts: This combined phrase illustrates the concrete and comprehensive results of the conquest and the nature of the newly established relationship – full political subjugation accompanied by regular economic obligation.
And the LORD preserved David wherever he went: This concluding clause is the theological cornerstone of the verse. It unmistakably attributes David's comprehensive successes – both the decisive conquest and its stable outcome – to God's consistent, active, and unfailing presence and protection, affirming that David's strength derived from his divine calling.
2 Samuel 8 6 Bonus section
- The territorial expansion achieved in 2 Samuel 8, including the dominion over Aram-Damascus, represented the practical zenith of the Davidic Kingdom's reach. It extended the borders significantly towards the Euphrates River, thereby partially fulfilling earlier biblical promises regarding the extent of the land granted to Abraham's descendants (Gen 15:18). This comprehensive dominion foreshadows the ultimate, global kingdom of the Messiah.
- The vast wealth acquired through these conquests, including gold, silver, and bronze from places like Damascus (2 Sam 8:7-8, 11-12), was consecrated to the Lord by David. This demonstrates David's understanding that his successes and the resulting riches were not merely for personal gain or national pride, but gifts from God to be dedicated for His service and glory, likely accumulating resources for Solomon's eventual temple construction.
- This verse profoundly illustrates the consistent biblical theme of God actively fighting for His people and enabling His chosen leaders when they walk in obedience and trust. It presents David not only as a formidable conqueror but fundamentally as a faithful servant who receives comprehensive blessings and success due to God's sovereign, unfailing support.
2 Samuel 8 6 Commentary
2 Samuel 8:6 serves as a powerful testament to God's faithfulness to David and the Davidic covenant. Coming directly after God's covenant promises in chapter 7 (to make David's name great and establish his kingdom forever), this verse immediately illustrates the tangible fulfillment of divine favor. David's military campaign against Aram-Damascus, a major regional power, results in their complete subjugation. The act of "putting garrisons" signifies profound military and political control, effectively transforming a defeated enemy into a permanent vassal obliged to pay "gifts" or tribute. However, the verse's theological thrust lies in its concluding statement: "And the LORD preserved David wherever he went." This clarifies that David's astonishing successes were not merely products of his strategic brilliance or military might. Instead, they were direct manifestations of God's active presence, protection, and enabling power. The Lord's preservation was comprehensive and continuous, assuring David victory in every endeavor. This verse therefore not only chronicles a historical event but primarily functions as a profound theological statement, asserting God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His unwavering commitment to His chosen king and His covenant plan for Israel.