2 Samuel 8:9 - Meaning and Application

Here we see, first, the favor David received from the king of Hamath. This king was apparently at war with the king of Zobah, and when he heard of David’s success against his enemy, he sent his own son as an ambassador to David (2 Samuel 8:9, 2 Samuel 8:10). He came to congratulate David on his victory, to thank him for weakening a power that threatened him, and to ask for his friendship. In this way, the king both protected himself and made himself stronger.

David gained nothing by that little ruler’s support, just as the old Romans used to gain by similar policy. The wealth he had taken from the nations as spoil now came to him as a gift. It was vessels of silver and gold. It is better to gain by agreement than by force.

Second, David gave to God the spoils of the nations and all the rich gifts brought to him. He set all of it apart for the Lord (2 Samuel 8:11, 2 Samuel 8:12). This made his victories far more noble than those of Alexander or Caesar, because they sought their own fame, while David aimed at God’s glory. All the precious things he possessed were dedicated things, meant for building the temple. That was also a sign of God’s kindness to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish nations, in the full coming of time, and of his house becoming a house of prayer for all people. In this way, the temple was built from the spoil and gifts of Gentile nations, which points ahead to the kings of the earth bringing their glory into the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:24).

David burned their gold idols (2 Samuel 5:21), but he dedicated their gold vessels. In the same way, when grace conquers a soul through the Son of David, Jesus, whatever stands against God must be destroyed. Every sinful desire must be put to death. But whatever can honor God should be set apart for him, and its ownership should be changed. Even trade and wages should become holy to the Lord (Isaiah 23:18), the gain consecrated to the Lord of the whole earth (Micah 4:13). Then it truly belongs to us, and we enjoy it rightly.

Third, David gained a lasting name by his victory over the Syrians and their allies the Edomites, who joined them in battle, as the title of Psalm 60 shows. He earned a reputation for wise leadership and courage, the kind of honor due to a great commander. Something unusual likely happened in that battle, which greatly increased his fame. Still, he was careful to give the credit to God, as his psalm on the occasion shows. It is through God that we do valiant things.

Fourth, we see David’s success against the Edomites. They all became David’s servants (2 Samuel 8:14). Only now was Isaac’s blessing fulfilled, by which Jacob was made lord over Esau (Genesis 27:37-40). The Edomites remained subject to the kings of Judah for a long time, just as the Moabites were subject to the kings of Israel, until they rebelled in Joram’s time (2 Chronicles 21:8), as Isaac had foretold, that Esau would in time break free from his yoke.

So David’s conquests served two purposes for his son. First, they secured peace, so his son would have time to build the temple. Second, they brought in wealth, so his son would have the means to build it. God uses his servants in different ways. Some fight spiritual battles, and others build spiritual work. One prepares the way for the next, so that God gets the glory in all of it.

All David’s victories pointed forward to the success of the gospel against Satan’s kingdom. There the Son of David, Jesus, rode out conquering and to conquer, and he will reign until he brings down every opposing rule, authority, and power. He has, as David had (2 Samuel 8:2), a line to kill and a line to save, because the same gospel is to some a message of life leading to life, and to others a message of death leading to death.