2 Samuel 8:9 kjv
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
2 Samuel 8:9 nkjv
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer,
2 Samuel 8:9 niv
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,
2 Samuel 8:9 esv
When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer,
2 Samuel 8:9 nlt
When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer,
2 Samuel 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 8:1-14 | And after this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them... | David's comprehensive military conquests and victories |
| 1 Chr 18:9-10 | When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer... | Parallel account of Tou (Toi) and his response |
| Deut 2:25 | This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples | God promises to make Israel feared by nations |
| Deut 11:25 | No one will be able to stand against you; the Lord your God... | God guarantees Israel's military invincibility |
| Josh 1:5 | No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. | God's promise of success to His chosen leader |
| Gen 15:18 | To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great | God's promised land borders reaching vast areas |
| Ps 18:37-43 | I pursued my enemies and overtook them... | David's testimony of God granting him victory |
| Ps 60:12 | With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes. | Reliance on God for victory against enemies |
| Ps 110:1-2 | The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies | Prophecy of Messiah's ultimate victory and dominion |
| Ps 144:1 | Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle; | God empowers David for military success |
| Isa 9:7 | Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... | Prophecy of the Davidic King's ever-increasing kingdom |
| Zech 9:10 | I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim... He shall speak peace to the nations | Messianic King bringing peace and wide dominion |
| Acts 2:30 | he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ... | David as prophet, his kingdom points to Christ's reign |
| Col 2:15 | He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame... | Christ's victory over spiritual adversaries |
| Heb 2:8 | You have put everything in subjection under his feet. | Christ's ultimate authority and subjection of all |
| Rev 19:11-16 | Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called | Christ as Victorious Warrior and King of kings |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; | Good leadership leads to regional recognition |
| 1 Sam 18:7-8 | and the women sang to one another as they played... "Saul has struck down | Comparison to Saul's limited victories; David's broader impact |
| 2 Sam 10:19 | When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been | Other subservient kings recognized David's power |
| Neh 6:1 | Now when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab heard that I had built | Nations/rulers hear of accomplishments and react |
| Esther 6:1 | On that night the king could not sleep... | Information/reports causing significant reactions |
| Exod 15:14-16 | The peoples have heard; they tremble... dread and terror fall upon them. | Fear falling on nations from God's acts for Israel |
| 1 Kings 4:24 | For he had dominion over all the region beyond the Euphrates... | Solomon's dominion reflects David's foundations |
2 Samuel 8 verses
2 Samuel 8 9 Meaning
This verse introduces King Toi of Hamath reacting to David's overwhelming military success against Hadadezer, the powerful Aramean king of Zobah. It signifies the far-reaching impact of David's victories, establishing Israel's dominance and causing other regional powers to re-evaluate their alliances and diplomatic posture.
2 Samuel 8 9 Context
2 Samuel chapter 8 recounts David's series of triumphant military campaigns, marking a significant period of expansion and consolidation for the kingdom of Israel. David first subdues the Philistines, then Moab, Zobah, and Aram (Damascus), and finally Edom. These victories establish Israel's regional dominance, bringing much wealth and tribute to Jerusalem, and fulfilling God's promise to Abraham regarding the extent of the promised land. Verse 9 specifically highlights the geopolitical ripple effect of David's defeat of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. Hadadezer was a major Aramean power, likely a rival of Hamath. Thus, Hadadezer's downfall was strategic news for King Toi, prompting his immediate diplomatic response. This chapter emphasizes that the Lord gave David victory wherever he went, attributing success not to David's might alone, but to divine intervention and favor.
2 Samuel 8 9 Word analysis
- When: (Hebrew: וַיְהִי wa·yi·hī) This temporal connector signals that the events to follow are a direct consequence of the information just received about David's prior victory. It denotes immediate reaction to critical news.
- Toi: (Hebrew: תֹּעִי Tōʿiy) King of Hamath. The name appears as Tou in 1 Chronicles 18:9, a minor textual variant. He is introduced as a new figure in the narrative, highlighting that David's fame and power extended beyond the directly contested territories.
- king: (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ melek) Denotes the sovereign ruler of a specific city-state or kingdom, implying authority and diplomatic standing.
- of Hamath: (Hebrew: חֲמָת Ḥamāṯ) An important ancient Aramean city-state located on the Orontes River in central Syria. Hamath was strategically vital due to its control over trade routes. Historically, Hamath often maintained a tense relationship or rivalry with the kingdom of Zobah, ruled by Hadadezer.
- heard: (Hebrew: שָׁמַע šāmaʿ) Implies receiving definite intelligence. This was not a rumor but credible information that caused King Toi to act decisively, recognizing the new regional power dynamics.
- that David: (Hebrew: דָּוִד Dāwiḏ) The chosen king of Israel. His name here represents the active force and the focus of the news; his identity carries divine authority and covenantal promises.
- had defeated: (Hebrew: הִכָּה hikkah, a form of נָכָה nakah) Literally "struck," "smashed," or "smote." This verb often indicates a decisive, overwhelming, and comprehensive military victory, signifying total subjugation and destruction of the enemy's fighting capability.
- the whole army: (Hebrew: כָּל־צָבָא kol-tsāḇāʾ) Emphasizes the completeness of David's victory. It wasn't just a skirmish or partial success but a total annihilation or incapacitation of Hadadezer's military forces, confirming his undisputed dominance.
- of Hadadezer: (Hebrew: הֲדַדְעֶזֶר Hadadʿezer) King of Zobah (Biblical Aram-Zobah), a powerful Aramean kingdom in central Syria, rivaling David for regional supremacy. His name means "Hadad is help" (Hadad was a prominent Canaanite/Aramean storm god), a name that now contrasts sharply with his total defeat, implying the God of Israel is greater than any pagan deity.
Words-group analysis
- When Toi king of Hamath heard: This phrase establishes the causal link between David's military exploits and the diplomatic ripple effects. Toi's awareness and subsequent actions are predicated on the factual military outcome.
- that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer: This specific intelligence highlights the scope and finality of David's military achievement. The defeat of Hadadezer, a significant regional power, reshaped the geopolitical landscape and presented opportunities or threats to neighboring states like Hamath.
2 Samuel 8 9 Bonus section
The account in 2 Samuel 8, including verse 9, highlights the zenith of the united monarchy's territorial expansion and political influence under David. This era stands as a practical fulfillment of the boundaries promised to Abraham (Gen 15:18). Hamath's geographical position was key; it lay north of Zobah, Hadadezer's kingdom. Therefore, David's dismantling of Zobah's power removed a buffer state for Hamath, and also eliminated Hamath's long-standing foe. This political alignment explains Toi's eagerness to send gifts and forge a friendly relationship with David, rather than resist him. The "whole army" phrase points to a crushing defeat, implying Hadadezer would not recover and no longer posed a threat, making David the undisputed major power in the Levant. The mention of "Toi" (or "Tou" in 1 Chronicles) is significant because it's an outside nation recognizing David's prowess, legitimizing his expanding kingdom in the eyes of other ANE states. This period of widespread submission and tribute laid the foundation for the immense wealth and peace experienced during Solomon's reign, marking the glory of the Davidic dynasty under God's blessing.
2 Samuel 8 9 Commentary
2 Samuel 8:9 illustrates the profound and immediate geopolitical consequences of David's God-given victories. Under the Lord's hand, David transformed Israel from a struggling tribal nation into a regional powerhouse. The news of Hadadezer's complete defeat by David signals Israel's rise to preeminence, forcing other rulers, like King Toi of Hamath, to acknowledge David's superior might and respond. For Toi, this wasn't merely military news; it was a shift in power dynamics, as Hadadezer was likely a long-standing enemy or rival of Hamath. Thus, David's victory over Hadadezer presented Toi with an opportunity to form a strategic alliance against a mutual former foe, leading to the exchange of gifts mentioned in the following verses. This moment signifies not just David's military success, but the outworking of God's covenant promises, expanding the dominion of His chosen king and causing nations to recognize the sovereign power backing Israel. This foreshadows the future and greater reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose kingdom will encompass all nations and against whom no enemy can stand.