October 4, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Samuel 8 (NIV)
David’s Victories
1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.
2 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............Continue Reading
While a violent chapter and a great deal of death it is important to see that as David reestablishes covenants with God, worship, and council God gives them the victories needed to regain control.
David has been faithful and God keeps His promises.
In many ways, chapter 8 is God beginning to fulfill the promises of chapter 7. David is being victorious over all the nations that surround Israel: north, south east and west. It is also over their traditional enemies that Israel at times struggled with defeating. It is much the way the world worked in that time of history, so God is blessing and revealing His hand in a way that is commensurate. And David shows himself a good leader by assigning people over the various tasks of His kingdom. Delegating responsibility is wise both in terms of work done as well as trust that is shown.
2 Samuel 8
Chapter 8 is a great picture of what can happen if we remain faithful to God and His purposes. To this point, at least, David is utilizing his resources well.
“The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.”
“David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.”
I just have one question, were David’s sons allowed to be priests?
I did a little research, but didn’t get an answer that I thought was sufficient. https://goodquestionblog.com/2014/05/19/how-could-davids-sons-have-been-priests/
Since it seems the Hebrew word could have other meanings other than priests, a better translation would be that they were royal advisors. In fact I didn’t catch the discrepancy because the NIV translates it that way.
2 Samuel 8