3 Then David defeated Hadadezer , the son of Rehob king of Zobah , as he went to restore his rule at the River . 4 David captured from him 1,700 e e horsemen and 20,000 e foot soldiers e ; and David hamstrung the chariot horses , but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots . 5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer , king of Zobah , David killed 22,000 e e Arameans . 6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus , and the Arameans became servants to David , bringing tribute . And the Lord helped David wherever e he went . 7 David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem . 8 From Betah and from Berothai , cities of Hadadezer , King David took a very large amount of bronze .
9 Now when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer , 10 Toi sent Joram his son to King David to greet e him and bless him, because e he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi . And Joram brought with him articles of silver , of gold and of bronze . 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord , with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued : 12 from Aram and Moab and the sons of Ammon and the Philistines and Amalek , and from the spoil of Hadadezer , son of Rehob , king of Zobah . 13 So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 e e Arameans in the Valley of Salt . 14 He put garrisons in Edom . In all Edom he put garrisons , and all the Edomites became servants to David . And the Lord helped David wherever e he went .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:3-14
Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:1-8.
(Read 2 Samuel 8:1-8.)
David subdued the Philistines. They had long been troublesome to Israel. And after the long and frequent struggles the saints have with the powers of darkness, like Israel with the Philistines, the Son of David shall tread them all under foot, and make the saints more than conquerors. He smote the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel. Two parts he destroyed, the third part he spared. The line that was to keep alive, though it was but one, is ordered to be a full line. Let the line of mercy be stretched to the utmost. He smote the Syrians. In all these wars David was protected, for this in his psalms he often gives glory to God.
Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:9-14
(Read 2 Samuel 8:9-14)
All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. The idols of gold David destroyed, 2 Samuel 5:21, but the vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus, in the conquest of a soul by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust must be mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated; thus the property of it is altered. God employs his servants in various ways; some, as David, in spiritual battles; others, as Solomon, in spiritual buildings; and one prepares work for the other, that God may have the glory of all.