Doctrines Covered

Doctrines Alluded To

Joab

Doctrine of War

Amalekites

Moab and Ammon

Philistines

Zobah

Psalms Appropriately Exegeted with this Chapter

Psalm 20

Psalm 60

Other Chapters of the Bible Appropriately Exegeted with this Chapter

1Chron. 18

I was raised up in a church were a technical vocabulary was the order of the day. However, I recognize that not every person is familiar with many spiritual terms, and particularly not those of the church I attend.

Definition of Terms

Client Nation

Client-Nation, is a national entity in which a certain number of spiritually mature Christians (the salt of the earth) have formed a pivot sufficient to sustain the nation and through which God specifically protects this nation so that believers can fulfill the divine mandates of evangelism, communication and custodianship of Bible doctrine, providing a haven for Jews, and sending missionaries abroad. The United States is a client-nation to God. A client nation must have freedom: Freedom to seek God, freedom to use one’s own volition and self-determination to succeed or fail, freedom from anarchy and tyranny, freedom for evangelism, freedom for believers to hear Bible teaching without government interference and, therefore, to grow spiritually, and freedom to send missionaries to other nations.

Divine Good

This is the good which we produce in this world while empowered by God the Holy Spirit. This is not confined to certain spiritual activities like giving, going to church, doing missionary activity, etc. (in fact, apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit, those activities would be human good, making them temporary and burned at the Judgment Seat of Christ). When we are filled with the Spirit, certain works become permanent divine good, which are rewardable. As we increase the doctrinal content of our souls, the quality and quantity of divine good that we produce becomes greater.

Laws of Divine Establishment

God has ordained certain laws for the survival and freedom of the human race during the course of human history. Anarchy exists when segments of nations ignore these laws. The laws of divine establishment provide the freedom to fulfill the divine plan as ordained in the divine decrees under many types of government. The laws of divine establishment are designed and directed toward both believer and unbeliever. They operate from the fall of man to the second advent, as well as in the Millennium with some modification in compatibility with perfect environment. These laws can be ascertained by a study of certain passages, like Rom. 13; from the assumptions behind many of the parables which Jesus gave; and from an examination of Israel as a client nation to God.

Some of these definitions are taken from

http://www.bibledoctrinechurch.org/?subpages/GLOSSARY.shtml

http://www.bigrick.org/pubs/terms.pdf

http://www.gbible.org/_files/pdf/Doctrine_of_The_Divine_Decree.pdf

http://www.gbible.org/index.php?proc=d4d&sf=rea&did=28

http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/topics/chastisement.html

So that you can see how someone else organizes this chapter.

An Alternate Outline from Matthew Henry

David having sought first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, settling the ark as soon as he was himself well settled, we are here told how all other things were added to him. Here is an account,...

 I. Of his conquests. He triumphed,

1. Over the Philistines (2Sam. 8:1).

2. Over the Moabites (2Sam. 8:2).

3. Over the king of Zobah (2Sam. 8:3, 2Sam. 8:4).

4. Over the Syrians (2Sam. 8:5–8, 2Sam. 8:13).

5. Over the Edomites (2Sam. 8:14).

II. Of the presents that were brought him and the wealth he got from the nations he subdued, which he dedicated to God (2Sam. 8:9–12).

III. Of his court, the administration of his government (2Sam. 8:15), and his chief officers (2Sam. 8:16–18). This gives us a general idea of the prosperity of David's reign.

I must admit that I do prefer the way that Henry has divided this chapter up. However, you will note that he cheated just a little bit by putting in vv. 13–14 in under section I. Had these verses followed vv. 1–8, then this chapter would have seemed more organized.

I should make two comments here: the Syrians found in v. 13 are actually Edomites (that will be explained when we get there); and there is probably an explanation for vv. 13–14 being where they are. I don’t know what that explanation is, but that is odd that they are there and do no follow vv. 1–8. At this point, this seems more like an oh, yeah moment in the writing of Samuel, as in, oh, yeah, David also defeated the Edomites.

From Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; from e-Sword, 2Sam. 8.

One of the most logical outlines comes from Wiersbe’s commentary

An Alternate Outline from Warren Wiersbe

 I. David’s wars with those around Israel:

1. The Philistines to the west (2Sam. 8:1).

2. The Moabites to the east (2Sam. 8:2).

3. The king of Zobah and the Syrians to the north (2Sam. 8:3–13).

4. The Edomites to the south (2Sam. 8:12–14).

II. David’s administration in Jerusalem (2Sam. 8:9–12).

Although Wiersbe does not have this set up in an outline form, I adopted it from his section headings.

http://books.google.com/books?id=GgLq2LR_cFcC&pg=PA765&lpg=PA765&dq=redpath+bible+commentator&source=bl&ots=NSIAK6zLq2&sig=JCXGYD1krJ36w_briQWP4IuF6nc&hl=en&ei=ShrGSYyJKIHasAP94c33Bg&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=21&ct=result#PPA567,M1

One of the things I had problem, when it came to R. B. Thieme Jr.’s ministry was his glorification of the military, as I had not been brought up with those values. It took me many years of study, but now I appreciate his approach and his emphasis. Since 2Sam. 8 and 10 have David warring against a half dozen nations, there are some things which we need to know about war.

Some Points on War

1.      War is a normal human activity, and all of the marches for peace in the world will not end war. If the United States buried all of his weapons and dismantled its armies, we would be attacked and possibly even defeated within a year or two of doing such a stupid thing. People all over the world lust for what we have, and many think that it is simply a function of living in a prosperous country. However, the key to our prosperity is twofold: (1) the grace of God and (2) economic freedom. However, they do not recognize this, so they think if they conquer our land and us, that will make them prosperous.

2.      Back to war: like most students, I was brought up with a limited education when it comes to war. I saw wars from a very American-centric view. I never fully appreciated that, at any given time, there are probably 10 or so wars being fought around the world, and that wars have continued throughout human history, increasing as time goes on; and that the soldier represents probably the best that a country has to offer.

3.      There is a lot of war in the Bible, and the honoring of the soldier is found throughout Scripture. The greatest compliment that Jesus paid to any individual was to a Roman soldier. Jesus did not berate the man for being a soldier; Jesus did not tell him, “Now, to be perfect, you need to lay down your weapon, desert the Roman army, and follow Me.” What Jesus said was, “I have found no one in Israel with a greater faith [than this Roman soldier].”

4.      Some of the greatest men in the Bible were soldiers or men of war: David, Joshua and Moses. And in the end of the Jewish Age, Jesus will return in the 2^nd Advent, and He will kill so many enemies in war, that the blood will flow as high as the horse’s bridle for nearly 200 miles (Rev. 14:20).

5.      God taught David’s hands to war. Psalm 18:34 144:1

6.      No matter how you feel about war in general, the Bible presents it matter-of-factly, and the soldiers of war are presented as heroes (e.g., David’s mighty men—2Sam. 23 1Chron. 12). There will always be wars and rumors of war (Matt. 24:6); and the occupation of a soldier is honorable. This is the view of the Bible, whether you like it or not.

7.      Jesus promised that there would be wars and rumors of wars until He returned (Matt. 24:6 Mark 13:7 Luke 21:9). At no time in the Bible is there any indication that man by reaching some point in civilization or in spiritual enlightenment, will ever move beyond war. Jesus will return and rule over the earth in the Millennium, and that will end warfare (until Satan is loosed); but prior to that Jesus will kill millions of people; and prior to that, war will be a part of human history (Rev. 19:11–21).

Please see http://www.spokanebiblechurch.com/powerpoint/WarandGod.pdf, which is a slide show presentation of the Doctrine of War in a pdf format.

There is a lot of war throughout the Bible, and there is no indication that man is going to suddenly become civilized and no longer engage in war.

In the United States, in the year 2009, when I write this, the current president, during his campaign, indicated that Iraq was not where American soldiers needed to be. He said that he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning, and the President Bush, by committing troops to Iraq, got his eye off the ball, which was the war in Afghanistan. Since we live in a democracy, and vote, it is worthwhile to try to figure out, when is it right to go to war?

What is a Righteous War?

1.      Bear in mind that, 99.999% of the time, we are not going to be in the position to determine whether or not we, as a nation, go to war. Even in a democracy like ours, we do not vote to go to war. What if your country is on the wrong side? What if you are a coward? I will answer those questions in this doctrine.

         1)      We are under the authority of the government of the nation in which we are born. God has placed these authorities over us, and we are subject to these authorities. Rom. 13

         2)      Jesus, when He spoke to the Roman soldier, said, “Not in all Israel have I found such a great faith.” Jesus did not tell this Roman soldier, “Now, to be perfect, you need to lay aside your weapon of war and follow Me.” This man, a soldier in Caesar’s army—a centurion, a man in authority, was fine right where he was, and Jesus did not suggest any further steps which he needed to take. Matt. 8:5–10

         3)      Therefore, when our nation calls upon us to go to war, we go to war. 99.9% of the time, that is our correct decision with regards to going to war.

         4)      Now, what if you disagree with the man in command? What if you think the president is a doofus? Paul, under Roman rule, tells us that those in authority over us are placed there by God, and we ought to obey them. Rom. 13

         5)      Let’s say you are under an incredibly unjust government and they want you to go to war, what do you do? Let’s say, your government is on the wrong side in a war, what do you do? Or your government begins the wholesale slaughter of its own citizens, what do you do? These are some very rare situations for the average believer. If you have believed in Jesus Christ, and you believe in your heart of hearts that your country is completely wrong and the enemy is complete right, then the Bible also tells us what to do—renounce your own nation and join the enemy. Here is where Jane Fonda was wrong (Jane Fonda was an actress who went to our enemies during the Vietnam War and allowed herself to be photographed for propaganda purposes). She did not want to stop being an American; she was not willing to renounce her citizenship and the benefits of her citizenship. She was not willing to use her money and go to North Vietnam and say, “I want to become a part of your nation. I am willing to support you in any way that I can; I want to become one of you.” All she was willing to do was to work against her own nation, and yet remain a part of America and continue to reap the benefits from being an American. On the other hand, Rahab the prostitute worked with Israel and Joshua against her own country and became a part of Israel (Joshua 2 Matt. 1:5). Had Israel failed, she would have died as a traitor to her own country. She threw in with the enemy of her country 100%; she did not straddle any fences.

         6)      The situation of Rahab is quite rare for the believer.

         7)      What if your country is only so-so as a country and you just do not like the idea of the wars we are engaged in? When Paul laid down the law when it came to being under the authority of national leaders, he was a citizen of Rome. He would eventually be decapitated by this government. He still supported Roman authority. Rom. 13

         8)      There has to be more to your opposition than, “I don’t believe in war.” We as believers do not get that luxury. We know that war is going to continue to be a part of our experience; that there will always be wars and rumors of wars, and that nowhere in the Bible are we given an out to conveniently support our enemies while remaining beneficiaries of our own country.

         9)      Let say that you are a coward, and the draft has been reinstituted, and war has broken out. What do you do? You have to obey the laws of the land and go into the military. At some point in time, before your location is determined, you need to privately make your cowardice known to your superior officers. There is justification in the Bible for removing cowards from the military. Ideally, you should jockey for a non-combat, support position, and there are thousands of such positions. After that, you allow God to determine where you end up.

2.      The Bible does not anywhere encourage us to be conscientious objectors or to oppose war as a general principle.

3.      It is certainly helpful when the population supports a war, does not protest against a war, and is unified against our enemies. We fought a disastrous war in Vietnam, a war which divided the country, and a war where the United States suffered its first defeat. One movie star—Jane Fonda—showed her approval of the acts of our enemies, and allowed her picture to be taken while on an enemy tank which was used to kill American soldiers. Other Americans sent blood to our enemies. No doubt, the marching protestors against this war had a hand in the defeat of their own country in war, and the slaughter of approximately 3 million people by the Communists which followed our retreat. Given this turmoil, we need to understand when war is justified.

4.      Most people would understand that going to war after being attacked is justified. There are a significant number out there who, if we suffered another attack similar to 9/11, would blame this attack on America and our support of Israel or our presence in the Middle East; but, the majority of Americans would support military action against whatever movement or country attacked us. Only a very small number of Christians would suggest that those in the United States turn the other cheek because that is what Jesus would have done (in their own minds). It is important to understand that, turn the other cheek applies to retaliation because of a personal vendetta.

5.      In the Old Testament, much of the time, God would guide Israel to go to war against certain nations. We do not have this same guidance. If some president said that God told him to go to war against nation X, we would vote him out of office.

6.      However, there is evidence in the Old Testament as to what sort of wars we as a nation ought to be involved in.

7.      God told Abraham that this land which He gave his progeny would not be a reality until the iniquity of the Amorites became full (Gen. 15:16). At that point in time, Amorite meant westerner, and this referred to the peoples who inhabited the Land of Promise which God gave to Abraham (the Amorites were also a specific people in that region as well). When Abraham came into this land, most of the peoples there were okay. They were unbelievers, but they were not degenerate unbelievers (with the exception of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah). When their iniquity became full-blown, then God would give the land to the seed of Abraham.

8.      Abraham’s seed also had to become a significant population as well. So we have two things which have to come to pass: (1) a significant number of Jews who believe in Jesus Christ who are willing to trust in God and (2) the people in the land God has given the Jews have to reach a tipping point of degeneracy. 40 years after Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, both of these things came to pass.

9.      How does this relate to our topic? Israel had to have an army; the people that they were going to destroy had to have transgressed more than just occupying the land which Israel wanted. Together, these things resulted in a series of wars and battles, from the time of Joshua to the time of David, when Israel secured much of the land which God had given them. God had not decided that Palestine belonged to the Jews and that He would simply destroy anyone living in this land in order to give it over to the Jews.

10.    When the Jews took the land under Joshua, they were to offer terms of peace first (Deut. 20:10 Joshua 9:15 10:1 11:19). Quite obviously, this would be overruled by a direct command from God (Joshua 6). Since God is omniscient, God knows the hearts of the people of the cities where Israel would invade. If they are 100% in negative volition toward God, then Israel did not need to offer them terms of peace.

11.    What was the main problem with every evil nation in the land of Palestine? Idolatry, which led to either immoral or moral degeneracy.

12.    You recognize evil in some nations by whom they choose to ally themselves with. Although I know a little about the history of Nazi Germany, I know almost nothing about Japan’s pre-WWII history. However, I recognize that if Japan chose to ally themselves with Nazi Germany, then that reveals their true colors.

13.    Similarly, we know the heart of a country based upon whom they identify as their enemies. When thousands of Muslims in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria or Iran march in the streets, burn American flags and shout, “Death to America,” we know where their hearts are.

         1)      Now, you may think that this is unfair, and that we should not always identify the people with their leaders, as their leaders can be despots. God gives a people the leader they deserve or a leader who is appropriate for them.

         2)      Think about our last 3 presidents (I write in 2009) and their greatest weaknesses. President Clinton strove to be popular, followed the polls, and often did the popular thing—which indicates no core values. His acts of immorality in office and his attempt to cover them up (along with a lifetime of such acts) did not substantively hurt his popularity, even when he flat out lied to the public. This is a reflection of us, the people. After him is President George Bush, who began strong, recognizing our common enemy (whom Clinton did not fully recognize), recognize that we were at war, and took steps to deal with it. However, in moving ahead with 2 reasonably popular wars, these wars were not over fast enough, and much of the public began to moan and groan, as if this affected them directly. All they really suffered was seeing it on tv night after night after night. Although Bush remained steadfast in his opposition to terrorism and to the correct outcome of these two wars, he went haywire when it came to the economy—and when he was right (about FNMA, about social security), our other leaders stood up against him. And he is followed by President Obama, who was elected primarily because he can speak well with a teleprompter, can dance around both sides of almost any issue (our news reporters call this taking a nuanced position), and exudes an attractive personage. Within a few months, he has proposed a mountain of debt tied to worthless spending unlike anyone has ever seen before and yet there are a significant portion of our population who refuses to recognize it because he is Obama. So you see how reflective our leaders are of the population?

         3)      Of course, the examples I gave were from a democracy, but bear in mind, God is in charge, and God places appropriate leaders in charge of nations.

         4)      Iran is not a democracy, and its leader is this tiny crazy person who denies the holocaust. Although many have tried to distinguish Ahmadinejad from the Iranian people, these people still flood the streets, celebrate 9/11, shout “Death to America” for hours, and desire to see Israel destroyed. Ahmadinejad is their appropriate figurehead and leader. Obviously, there is a significant number of Iranians who are pro-American, but there has been no power shift as of yet (again, I write this in the year 2009).

14.    Furthermore, we know which countries are white hats based upon whom they choose to ally themselves with. We have alliances with nations such as Mexico, Canada, England, France, Germany, Japan and Britain (to name a few); their choosing to associate with us and to ally themselves with us tells us about their people and governments.

15.    In this chapter, Syria (Aram) will ally themselves with Hadadezer and war with David. King Toi, from the same region, will honor David when he defeats Hadadezer. This tells us about the hearts of the people and governments in this chapter at this time—those who ally themselves with David are blessed of God and those who chose to war against David are cursed by God.

16.    Note that God did not have Israel continually acting in a hostile manner against her neighbors. God did not put Israel into a 24/7/365 war mode. Egypt was continually in idolatry. God warned Israel not to go to Egypt or to depend upon Egypt, but God did not tell Israel, “You need to raise up your army and go destroy Egypt.” God did send Israel to war on many occasions against her enemies, but not against all of her enemies. At the time of Jeremiah, God expected His people to place themselves under the authority of Assyrian king Nebuchadnezzar, who had just conquered Israel. There was a remnant in the land, under Gedeliah as their governor and under Jeremiah as their spiritual leader. God did not tell them to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar; God expected them to submit themselves to Nebuchadnezzar’s rule.

17.    Let’s apply all of this to today. God has not told any of us or any of our leaders to invade this or that nation, but let’s just suppose that is somehow our decision—how do we make such a decision?

         1)      When someone goes to war against us, we have two choices: we either give up and place ourselves under their authority or we fight to preserve our freedom. Most of the time, God had Israel fight for her freedom (the book of Judges). However, in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, the people of Israel who remained alive were not to rebel against him; they were to submit to his authority. The same would have been true of the Jews under Roman rule. Rome crushed Israel because of her rebellion, but allowed Christianity to flourish, despite some heavy persecution in the beginning. Determining when to fight and when to lay down your weapons and submit requires spiritual maturity.

         2)      There are characteristics of the heathen in Palestine which are still here today: idolatry which leads to human and, particularly, child sacrifice—that is evil and is to be wiped out. You may protest and say, “No one out there is engaging in child sacrifice—not as a country.” However, when you raise your children to hate Israel and to hate America; and you raise them to commit themselves to suicide missions through cartoons and constant propaganda, and they are to do this for the glory of Allah, that is modern-day child sacrifice. Some have even strapped bombs to children and detonated them. This is highly degenerate (religious degeneracy), and it is reasonable to suppose that if God had Israel destroy peoples like this in their day, that such an enemy is fair game for us today. www.obsessionthemovie.com or http://obsessionthemovie.com/27minversion.php

         3)      Along the same lines, wanton murder by any government of its own citizenry (by Muslim fanatics or by Communists or by Nazis) is justification by itself for a righteous nation to step in. The Nazis killed millions of Jews and Christians; and the Communists have killed tens of millions of those who would not go along with their program (mostly those who believe in God; Christians and Jews and those of other religions). Wars against such forces of evil are righteous wars. In other words, our wars in Korea and Vietnam were as righteous as our war against the Nazis. When we pulled out of Vietnam, this was unrighteousness, and what followed was a bloodbath which far, far exceeded in a couple of years the number of casualties over a 16 year long war. In this alone, we know that we were right to fight against the bloody Communists and that we should have defeated them (and, in case you did not know, even one of the top generals in North Vietnam was only weeks or months away from surrendering to the United States when we pulled out).

         4)      It is important to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle and that Satan is the god of this world, and his plans and deeds are not difficult to understand. We can choose to ignore them and our news services may ignore them, but much of his activity in the world is not difficult to discern. When you see the Word of God being suppressed and children being sacrificed and children being raised to hate, you know Satan is at work and has captured the hearts of much of the population where such things are taking place.

         5)      When people reached a tipping point of degeneracy, God used Israel to destroy them—sometimes, every man, woman and child. Men with spiritual insight need to be able to recognize when this tipping point has been reached. This is one reason God has given us the Old Testament, so that by seeing Satan’s work in the Old Testament, we are able to recognize it in our contemporary world.

         6)      In a democracy, as we live in here, we need to elect leaders who are believers and who have a reasonable world-view. It should be clear that they are not given in to delusions, e.g., being able to smooth-talk our enemies; and they should demonstrate a clear understanding of America’s Christian heritage and future. Such men may not be doctrinally sound, but they may understand enough to be reasonable leaders.

18.    Summary:

         1)      Satan exists and his hatred and ferocity are well-known. Although Satan is quite able to be subtle and present himself as an angel of light, he is also willing to take center stage when it comes to leading a nation dedicated to him. What I mean is, a honest appraisal of a nation makes it clear that they are led by Satan; this is not something which is carefully hidden. Anyone who has some historical knowledge of Communism, Nazism or of radical Islamic fascism recognizes how evil these ideologies are. Just yesterday, a suicide attack was carried out in Pakistan, against a Mosque, so that a maximum number of people could be killed or injured. 50 people were killed. Islamic fascists love to target innocent Muslims and innocent people in general. It should not take a spiritual genius to recognize that is absolute evil.

         2)      God uses certain nations to defeat and sometimes to destroy nations which have become dangerous cancers in this world.

         3)      God originally used Israel to defeat and destroy evil nations; and now He primarily uses client nations (nations in which a significant portion of the people believe in Jesus Christ and where Bible doctrine is taught and from which missionaries emanate).

         4)      War is an integral part of human history; its horror duly noted. Still, we will never see the end of warfare until the Millennium. All of the marching in the world and all of the peace protests will never change this. In fact, in many cases, this will give comfort and enthusiasm to our enemies, and increase the length of war, the determination of our enemy, and the body count of our own soldiers.

         5)       When a person decides to march for peace, they need to recognize that they will probably increase the number of deaths and lengthen the war they are marching against. Vietnam is a prime example of that. One of the military leaders of the North Vietnam army (General Giap) has written about that era, and was amazed that we pulled out of Vietnam. He admits that they were months if not weeks away from surrendering. Had we remained a few more months, we would have been victorious and literally millions of lives would have been saved (these are the lives of people who trusted us and who desired freedom, as well as the lives of many innocents). Our pulling out of Vietnam was an act of evil and cowardice, and many died because of it.

         6)      Going to peace marches is more of an expression of self-righteousness than anything else.

         7)      Nations which serve Satan will be anti-God, anti-Semitic and/or anti-freedom.

         8)      When they raise their children to be sacrificed in order to promote Satan’s agenda (which is anti-God, anti-Semitic and anti-freedom), they are equivalent to a nation which sacrifices its children to some false idol. The Hitlarian youth; young people not only schooled in Communism, but schooled in a world domination by Communism; Muslim children brought up to hate and with a desire to kill Jews, Americans or Brits for Allah, indicate that a nation has reached a dangerous tipping point.

         9)      Such a nation needs to be, at minimum, contained; and, at maximum, destroyed.

         10)    When do such nations need to be destroyed? When their iniquity is full.

         11)    Evil nations are a cancer in society and their evil is spread throughout their own nation and sometimes throughout the world. Radical Muslims are an example of this, an in this past decade, have launched thousands of attacks in hundreds of countries throughout the world. Since our news ignores this, I suggest you go to www.thereligionofpeace.com to see what they are up to this past month.

         12)    Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU so see how the world we live in can be changed in a few decades by this evil mindset.

         13)    When we know the heart of one nation, we can determine the heart of other nations by whom they choose to ally themselves with and whom they choose to identify as enemies.

         14)    Since we, as Americans, living in democracy, really have little or no say in determining whether or not we ought to go to war; we can rest assured that it is a war of God—a righteous war—if it is against a people who are anti-God, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic and/or anti-freedom.

         15)    Finally, I would argue that such wars—wars of choice—are more important and consequential than wars of defense against an immediate attack. Before we were attacked at Pearl Harbor, we should have recognized how evil Nazis were, who began to move against allies of ours.

         16)    Killing our enemies—and killing as many as possible of them—often results in fewer deaths and shortened wars. Most historians agree that when President Truman used atomic weapons against Japan, this shortened the war and probably reduced the total number of casualties.

         17)    As God is with David in the wars enumerated in this chapter (2Sam. 8:14b), so God will be with us as individuals and with our nation as a corporate entity.

19.    And in case you did not know this, we have one of the greatest militaries of our history serving the United States today. Even the soldiers of our allies cannot compare to our own military. A few months ago, British soldiers were captured by Iran and they allowed themselves to be used for propaganda purposes, although what they faced for the most part was, psychological warfare after being captured. The professionalism and heroism of our soldiers (almost totally ignored by our media) is an incredible blessing from God, and it reveals how closely God is working with the United States.

The weakness of the churches today is, there is not enough taught by way of mechanics and by way of application of Bible doctrine. Too many church-goers lack personal integrity and lack appreciation for our military.

Nations function as a corporate witness before God. A nation which kills its own people, which stifles freedom (particularly religious freedom) and which is anti-Semitic is cursed by God. Nations where there is freedom, where people believe in Jesus Christ, where the Word of God is taught, are nations which are blessed by God. There are times in human history where those nations blessed by God will be called upon to defeat and even to destroy cancerous nations cursed by God.

2Samuel 8:1a

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

hâyâh (הָיָה) [pronounced haw-YAW]

to be, is, was, are; to become, to come into being; to come to pass

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong's #1961 BDB #224

ʾachărêy (אַחֲרֵי) [pronounced ah-kuh-RAY]

behind, after; following; after that, afterwards; hinder parts

preposition; plural form

Strong’s #310 BDB #29

kên (כֵּן) [pronounced kane]

so, thus; upright, honest; rightly, well; [it is] so, such, so constituted;

properly, an active participle; used primarily as an adverb

Strong's #3651 BDB #485

These two words together literally mean after so; however, they appear to mean afterward, afterwards, after these things, after this, [and] after that. See Gen. 15:14 23:19 25:26 Lev. 14:36 Deut. 21:13 1Sam. 10:5.

2Samuel 8:1b

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

nâkâh (נָכָה) [pronounced naw-KAWH]

to smite, to assault, to hit, to strike, to strike [something or someone] down, to defeat, to conquer, to subjugate

3^rd person masculine singular, Hiphil imperfect

Strong #5221 BDB #645

Dâvid (דָּוִד); also Dâvîyd (דָּוִיד) [pronounced daw-VEED]

beloved and is transliterated David

masculine proper noun

Strong’s #1732 BDB #187

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

generally untranslated; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

P^elish^etîy (פְּלִשְתִּי) [pronounced p^e-lish-TEE]

transliterated Philistines

masculine plural gentilic adjective (acts like a proper noun)

Strong’s #6430 BDB #814

Here, this is spelled P^elish^etîym (פְּלִשְתִּים) [pronounced p^e-lish-TEEM].

Let’s review the history of Israel and the Philistines.

Israel and the Philistines

1.      Israel and Philistia have been traditional enemies for many centuries.

2.      During the time of the Judges, the Philistines oppressed Israel for 40 years and Samson delivered them (Judges 13–16).

3.      Under the final judge, Eli, Israel fought with the Philistines and the Philistines took the Ark of God from them (which the Israelites brought into battle as a good luck charm—1Sam. 4).

4.      The Ark caused the Philistines so many problems that they eventually returned it to Israel. All of these problems substantially weakened the Philistines for some time. 1Sam. 5–6

5.      Israel was then able to decisively defeat the Philistines in battle under Samuel’s guidance. 1Sam. 7

6.      The hatred for Israel among many Philistines was strong, and they continued to attack Israel, attempting to divide Israel by attacking central Israel while Saul was king (Saul governed Israel from central Israel). 1Sam. 13

7.      Jonathan enjoyed a tremendous victory over the Philistines in 1Sam. 14:1–23.

8.      However, despite their many setbacks, the Philistines continued to war with King Saul. 1Sam. 14:52

9.      The Philistines arrayed themselves against Israel with Goliath as their front man. David defeats Goliath and the Philistines flee. 1Sam. 17

10.    David becomes one of Saul’s main generals, defeating many enemies (which possibly includes additional skirmishes with the Philistines). However, Saul became jealous of David and began to focus his anger and jealousy against David, causing David to flee. 1Sam. 18–24

11.    Because of this rift, David goes to the Philistines to find a place to live, and he and his small army are placed in southeastern Palestine, becoming somewhat of a buffer between Israel and the Philistines. 1Sam. 27

12.    The Philistines decide to war against Saul, and David, because he is living on their land, is expected to join with them. However, Philistines who know David and know of him decide that going to war with David and his men among them was a potential threat to them, so David was let off the hook and sent back to his campsite. 1Sam. 29

13.    The Philistines wage war against Saul and his sons and are victorious, killing them, routing the Israeli soldiers, and taking over their cities in central Israel (primarily in Benjamin). 1Sam. 31:1–7

14.    After this time, Saul’s son, Ishbosheth is ruling over northern and eastern Israel and David has control of southern Israel. Central Israel is probably still under the control of the Philistines. 2Sam. 2

15.    When David solidifies his control over all Israel, the Philistines attack. This is somewhat confusing. Approximately 7 years before, the Philistines took the cities of central Israel. Whether they are still in these cities or not is unclear. However, in any case, David defeats them twice, sending them back to their traditional land in southeastern Palestine. 1Sam. 7

16.    Time passes: David moves the Ark to Jerusalem, he thinks about building a permanent structure to God, and God gives David the Davidic Covenant (2Sam. 6–7). David is again at war with the Philistines, although we are given few details here, apart from him taking Gath, which is one of the primary cities of the Philistines, being almost due east of Jerusalem. This suggests that we are speaking of new conflicts with the Philistines, rather than rehashing David’s battles with them from 2Sam. 5.

17.    Because of this recent and continuous history that Israel has with the Philistines, it is no wonder that they are mentioned first.

Quite obviously, there is a long and bloody history between Israel and the Philistines.

2Samuel 8:1c

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

kânaʿ (כָּנַע) [pronounced kaw-NAHĢ]

to bow down, to bring anyone low, to humble, to subdue

3^rd person masculine singular, Hiphil imperfect; with the 3^rd person masculine plural suffix

Strong’s #3665 BDB #488

Allow me to continue with a few more points on the Philistines.

Israel and the Philistines Continued

18.    Israel has another war with Gath, one of the chief cities of the Philistines, in 1Chron. 20:6–8 which involves some of the giants. This appears to have taken place during the Bathsheba incident.

19.    Somehow, in all of this, David appears to have acquired a large number of Gittites (men of Gath) in his own army (there are 600 Cherethites, Pelethites and Gittites). 2Sam. 15:18

20.    Much later in David’s life, after the Absalom revolt, the Philistines will come back to war against the Israelites. It appears as though there were several battles and perhaps several wars. David and his armies would be victorious on every occasion. 2Sam. 21:15–22

21.    The references in 2Sam. 23 to the Philistines are simply recounting the heroic exploits of some of David’s soldiers.

22.    From 2Sam. 21 until the end of Solomon’s life, the Philistines brought tribute to the Israelites. 1Kings 4:21 reads: Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

23.    The next time that we hear about the Philistines, it is almost incidental. The Kingdom of Israel was divided after Solomon. The northern kingdom, under its 2^nd king (Nadab) was warring against the Philistines, and Baasha killed Nadab when he was laying siege against the Philistines. Baasha became the 3^rd king over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This is 909 b.c. 1Kings 15:27

24.    24 years later, we hear about the Philistines again in an incidental way, when Omri was apparently at war against the Philistines. However, the battle with the Philistines is presented as incidental to Omri being made king over the Northern Kingdom (Omri is the 6^th king of Israel). This is 885 b.c. 1Kings 16:15

25.    The Philistines are mentioned again incidentally in 2Kings 8 (circa 840 b.c.); in a passage which indicates that a woman was able to go from Israel into Philistia and live for 7 years.

26.    Hezekiah, circa 720 b.c., king of Judah, hands a crushing defeat to the Philistines in 2Kings 18:8.

27.    We do not find the Philistines mentioned in any subsequent history (Kings or Chronicles), but they are mentioned by later prophets: Jer. 25:20 47:1, 4 Ezek. 16:27, 57 25:15–16 Obad. 1:19

There are additional passages from the prophets which are coterminous with the history cited: Isa. 2:6 9:12 11:14 Amos 1:8 6:2 9:7 Zeph. 2:5.

2Samuel 8:1d

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

lâqach (לָקַח) [pronounced law-KAHKH]

to take, to take away, to take in marriage; to seize

3^rd person masculine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong’s #3947 BDB #542

The BDB gives the following meanings: to take, take in the hand; to take and carry along; to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away; to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept; to take up or upon, put upon; to fetch; to take, lead, conduct; to take, capture, seize; to take, carry off; to take (vengeance).

Dâvid (דָּוִד); also Dâvîyd (דָּוִיד) [pronounced daw-VEED]

beloved and is transliterated David

masculine proper noun

Strong’s #1732 BDB #187

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

generally untranslated; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

Metheg (מֶתֶג) [pronounced MEH-theg]

a bridle; control, authority

masculine singular noun with the definite article

Strong’s #4964 BDB #607

ʾAmmâh (אַמָּה) [pronounced ahm-MAW]

foundation; beginning; metropolis; transliterated Ammah

proper feminine singular noun/location with the definite article

Strong’s #520 BDB #52

This is the same noun which is used to mean cubit.

There is the problem, can this be seen as one place or as the control of Ammah. In the latter case, this would be a construct state, and a noun in the construct state cannot have a definite article. Since both of these nouns have definite articles, we cannot understand this to be in the construct state.

min (מִן) [pronounced mihn]

from, off, out from, out of, away from, on account of, since, than, more than

preposition of separation

Strong's #4480 BDB #577

yâd (יָד) [pronounced yawd]

generally translated hand

feminine singular construct

Strong's #3027 BDB #388

Yâd as a construct and the min preposition are literally rendered from a hand of; together, they can also mean out of the hand of; out of the power of; from the power of.

P^elish^etîy (פְּלִשְתִּי) [pronounced p^e-lish-TEE]

transliterated Philistines

masculine plural gentilic adjective (acts like a proper noun)

Strong’s #6430 BDB #814

Here, this is spelled P^elish^etîym (פְּלִשְתִּים) [pronounced p^e-lish-TEEM].

To remind you, the final portion of this verse was translated in many ways (as you will see, I tried to stay with fairly conservative translations):

Translations of 2Samuel 8:1d

Translation

Text/Commentary

A Conservative Version

And David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. This is a translation of the two words in question. The problem with a translation is, this appears to be in the construct state, but first noun in the construct state (which is actually the only noun in the construct) will not have a definite article, as this one does. I do not know if there are exceptions to this or not.

American King James Version

...and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. Here, the two words are translated as one, to refer to a city not named elsewhere.

The Bible in Basic English

...and David took the authority of the mother-town from the hands of the Philistines. This is a translation of the two words in question.

Concordant Literal Version

...and David takes the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines. This is a translation of the two words in question.

Complete Apostles Bible

...and David took the tribute from out of the hand of the Philistines. The Complete Apostles Bible is based upon the Greek text. I am unfamiliar with the verb used here, but this is how this translation translates it. This would simply indicate that the Philistines were subservient to David. This would also indicate that there are troubles with the Hebrew of this verse.

Exegesis Companion Bible

...and David takes Metheg Ha Ammah

from the hand of the Peleshethiy:... The words here are transliterated as a proper noun.

Updated Bible Version 2.11

...and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.

Since the construct form of a noun should not have a definite article, and since Metheg has a definite article, we will reasonably assume that it should not be translated as a noun in the construct state (as did many of these translations, including A Conservative Version and the Concordant Literal Version).

It is worthwhile to see how scholars have interpreted this city. However, if you want to skip ahead to the conclusion at the end of this doctrine, that is fine. You’ll get all that you need in the two concluding paragraphs.

Interpretations of Metheg-ʾAmmâh

Commentary

Their Opinion

Barnes

Metheg-ammah must be the name of some stronghold which commanded Gath, and the taking of which made David master of Gath and her towns.

Easton

Metheg–ammah: Bridle of the mother a figurative name for a chief city, as in 2Sam. 8:1, “David took Metheg–ammah out of the hand of the Philistines” (R.V., “took the bridle of the mother–city”); i.e., subdued their capital or strongest city, viz., Gath (1Chron. 18:1).

Edersheim

The expression “taking the bridle,” means taking the command or supmacy (compare Job 30:11). The term “mother” is applied to the principal city in a district, the other towns being designated “daughters.”

Fausset

Metheg–Ammah: 2Sam. 8:1. Not in the parallel 1Chron. 18:1. The name Metheg–Ammah must have fallen into disuse, originally designating the region wherein Gath was. Rather it is figurative: "David took the bridle of the mother (Gath the metropolis, i.e. wrested the supremacy) out of the hand of the Philistines." The Arabic idiom for submission is to give up one's bridle to another. The phrase "Gath and her daughter towns" (Hebrew, 1Chron. 18:1) favors the rendering "mother." Gath became tributary to David.

Gill

[This is] the name of a province in Palestine, and from the parallel place in 1Chron. 18:1, it appears to be Gath, and its adjacent towns; but why that was called the bridle of Ammah, or the bridle of a cubit, as it may be rendered, is not easy to say. The conjecture of Kimchi is, that there was a pool or river of water, so Ammah is thought to signify; and Aquila renders it a water course, which passed through the city, having been brought from without it into it, the communication of which from place to place it may be David cut off, by stopping or turning its stream; but interpreters more generally suppose that Gath was built upon an hill called Ammah (see 2Sam. 2:24); thought to be the same with the Amgaris of Pliny though that is sometimes read Angaris, a mountain he places in Palestine; and that it was called Metheg, a bridle, because being a frontier city, and being very strong and powerful, erected into a kingdom, it was a curb and bridle upon the Israelites; but now David taking it out of their hands, opened his way for the more easy subduing the rest of their country: or the word may be rendered Metheg and her mother, that is, Gath, the metropolis, since that and her daughters, or towns, are said to be taken (1Chron. 18:1); and Metheg might be one of them.

Guzik

This is another name for the famous Philistine city of Gath.

ISBE

Metheg–Ammah: mê–theg–am´a, meth–eg–am´a (האמּה מתג, methegh hâ–'ammâh, “bridle of the metropolis”; Septuagint τὴν ἀφορισμένην, tến aphorisménên). It is probable that the place–name Metheg–Ammah in 2Sam. 8:1 the King James Version should be rendered as in the Revised Version (British and American), “the bridle of the mother city,” i.e. Gath, since we find in the parallel passage in 1Chron. 18:1 וּבנתיה גּת, gath ûbhenôthehâ, “Gath and her daughters,” i.e. daughter towns. The Septuagint has an entirely different reading: “and David took the tribute out of the hand of the Philistines,” showing that they had a different text from what we now have in the Hebrew. The text is evidently corrupt. If a place is intended its site is unknown, but it must have been in the Philistine plain and in the vicinity of Gath.

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown

David took Metheg–ammah out of the hand of the Philistines––that is, Gath and her suburban towns (1Chron. 18:1).

Keil and Delitzsch

The figurative expression Metheg–ammah, “bridle of the mother,” i.e., the capital, has been explained by Alb. Schultens (on Job. 30:11) from an Arabic idiom, in which giving up one's bridle to another is equivalent to submitting to him. Gesenius also gives several proofs of this (Thes. p. 113). Others, for example Ewald, render it arm–bridle; but there is not a single passage to support the rendering “arm” for ammah. The word is a feminine form of אם, mother, and only used in a tropical sense. “Mother” is a term applied to the chief city or capital, both in Arabic and Phoenician (vid., Ges. Thes. p. 112). The same figure is also adopted in Hebrew, where the towns dependent upon the capital are called its daughters (vid., Joshua 15:45, Joshua 15:47). In 1Chron. 18:1 the figurative expression is dropped for the more literal one: “David took Gath and its daughters out of the hand of the Philistines,” i.e., he wrested Gath and the other towns from the Philistines. The Philistines had really five cities, every one with a prince of its own (Joshua 13:3). This was the case even in the time of Samuel (1Sam. 6:16–17). But in the closing years of Samuel, Gath had a king who stood at the head of all the princes of the Philistines (1Sam. 29:2., cf. 1Sam. 27:2). Thus Gath became the capital of the land of the Philistines, which held the bridle (or reins) of Philistia in its own hand. The author of the Chronicles has therefore given the correct explanation of the figure. The one suggested by Ewald, Bertheau, and others, cannot be correct, – namely, that David wrested from the Philistines the power which they had hitherto exercised over the Israelites. The simple meaning of the passage is, that David wrested from the Philistines the power which the capital had possessed over the towns dependent upon it, i.e., over the whole of the land of Philistia; in other words, he brought the capital (Gath) and the other towns of Philistia into his own power. The reference afterwards made to a king of Gath in the time of Solomon in 1Kings 2:39 is by no means at variance with this; for the king alluded to was one of the tributary sovereigns, as we may infer from the fact that Solomon ruled over all the kings on this side of the Euphrates as far as to Gaza (1Kings 5:1, 4).

New Living Bible

They translate this Gath, which is not unreasonable, as that is what we find in 1Chron. 18:1, the parallel passage. They point out that this city had been a danger and a problem for Israel since the days of Samson.

Poole

Metheg–ammah is simply Gath and her towns, as it is expressed in the parallel place in 1Chron. 18:1. It is called Metheg–ammah here (or the bridle of Ammah), because Gath was situated in the mountain of Ammah; and because it was the chief city of the Philistines, which had king (none of the other cities had a king). Therefore, Gath was the bridle which had hitherto kept the Israelites in subjection, but now was taken out of their mouths.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Methegammah: Me'theg–am'mah. (bridle of the metropolis). A place, which David took from the Philistines, apparently, in his last war with them (2Sam. 8:1). Ammah may be taken as meaning "mother–city" or "metropolis", compare 2Sam. 20:19 (I am peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?), and Metheg–he–Ammah may mean "the bridle of the mother–city" –– namely, of Gath, the chief town of the Philistines.

R. B. Thieme Jr.

Metheg ha-'Ammah - meant their 'central government' - as a bridal controls the horse, so the central government controlled the Philistine lands.

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge

Methegammah or, the bridle of Ammah (2Sam. 2:24; 1Chr. 18:1–17); which is Gath, In the parallel passage of Chronicles, we read, “David took Gath and her towns;” and it is probable, that Gath and its districts were called Metheg–ammah in David’s time; which, being unusual or becoming obsolete, in the time of the author of the Chronicles, led him simply call it Gath.

Wesley

Metheg - ammah, or the bridle of Ammah, is Gath was situate in the mountain of Ammah; and because this being the chief city of the Philistines, and having a king, which none of the rest had, was the bridle which had hitherto kept the Israelites in subjection.

There seem to be two basic options here: (1) either the text is corrupted here; or (2) this is a figurative term for Gath (see the very complex explanation of Keil and Delitzsch above). Given the parallel text in 1Chron. 18:1 and the paying tribute spoken of in the LXX, it is most reasonable that we are speaking of Gath here and her daughters (i.e., the outlying towns) paying tribute to David.

It is possible and even reasonable that the editor of Chronicles read what was in the Samuel text, found it to be moderately obscure, and simplified the text for his day and age. 1Sam. 18:1: After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. The mother city being spoken of is Gath. Whether Metheg-Ammah is a Philistine name or title given to Gath or some kind of corrupted text, the parallel passage referring to Gath is probably correct (recall that, in general, the Chronicles text is probably more accurate than the Samuel text).

2Samuel 8:2a

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

nâkâh (נָכָה) [pronounced naw-KAWH]

to smite, to assault, to hit, to strike, to strike [something or someone] down, to defeat, to conquer, to subjugate

3^rd person masculine singular, Hiphil imperfect

Strong #5221 BDB #645

The Greek inserts the proper noun David here, which may simply be a literary choice on the part of the Greek translator.

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

generally untranslated; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object

Strong's #853 BDB #84

Môwʾâb (מוֹאָב) [pronounced moh-AW^BV]

of his father; transliterated Moab

masculine singular, proper noun

Strong’s #4124 BDB #555

Apart from Bible doctrine, Israel and Israel’s relationships with her enemies is hard to comprehend.

Israel and her Enemies; the Divine Perspective

1.      If one was to ponder the Jew as a race and Israel as a nation, there ought to be a great deal of confusion.

2.      How do people from a nation which lost its sovereignty in 586 b.c. still survive?

3.      How have these people maintained a separate identify, although they have been scattered throughout the world?

4.      How is it possible for a such a nation as Israel to reconstitute itself thousands of years later?

5.      Why do the Arabs so passionately hate the Jews?

6.      Why haven’t the Arabs crushed the Jews? The Arabs dwarf the Jews in size and population.

7.      These questions ought to confuse and mystify the unbeliever. So let’s take these questions one at a time:

8.      How do people from a nation which lost its sovereignty in 586 b.c. still survive? God still has a purpose for the Jew; the Dispensation of Israel has not yet been completed (there are 7 years to go), and when the Church Age is completed, the remainder of the Age of Israel will begin. There must be Jews scattered throughout the world and a nation Israel in existence for all of this to come to pass. Therefore, the Jews will exist to the end of human history.

9.      How have these people maintained a separate identify, although they have been scattered throughout the world? The Jews are God’s people and God will maintain their separate identity throughout human history. We must always be able to point to the Jews and recognize that God has made these people His. It is by divine design that the Jews will be scattered throughout all of the nations in the end times.

10.    How is it possible for a such a nation as Israel to reconstitute itself thousands of years later? In the end times, there will be a nation Israel. Now, we do not know when the end times will come. Despite the world appearing to be in desperate shape at this time, we do not know the day nor the hour of Jesus’ coming; so we do not know when He will return for His church (the rapture) or return to destroy the armies fighting in Israel (the 2^nd Advent). This particular nation Israel may continue and it may be wiped out at some point in time. However, before the end times, there will be a nation Israel in the land.

11.    Why do the Arabs so passionately hate the Jews? Apart from the Bible, anti-Semitism is difficult to comprehend. Even the conservative movement in the United States up until the time of Ronald Reagan had a very healthy anti-Semitic branch (which was the primary reason the conservative movement would not catch on—God is not going to bless an anti-Semitic movement). The Jews are God’s people, and will remain set apart until the end of time. Those who are against God will naturally be against the Jews. This is why in the neo-liberal movement (the progressives), becoming more secular and seeing the Arabs on an equal footing with the Jews goes hand-in-hand.

12.    Why haven’t the Arabs crushed the Jews? This is one of the most amazing questions. In the Six-Day War, Egypt, Jordan and Syria went to war against Israel. Additional troops were offered up by Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria (to right against Israel). Egypt has a population of around 65 million; Jordan has a population of 5 million, Syria has a population of 18 million and Israel has a population of 7 million. These 3 nations alone have populations 12x that of Israel. Furthermore, their hatred for Israel is dramatic and palpable. Therefore, ginning up the population in favor of such a war is not a difficult thing for these countries to do. And 6 other Arab nations wanted to get into the act. Furthermore, the Soviets backed the Arabs with weapons. President Nasser of Egypt had declared, “Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight.” Nasser also proclaimed: “The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel ... to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not of more declarations.” After 6 days of fighting, Israel tripled its size by the land which it captured. 6 years later, there was another Arab-Israeli war which lasted nearly a month. Again, Egypt and Syria allied themselves against the Jews. Although Israel was dramatically taken aback by a surprise attack on two fronts, Israel within days was showing military superiority over her attackers. What happened? Quite obviously, military preparedness and military might are a factor. Israel had become somewhat complacent by the 1973 Arab Israeli Conflict, but quickly bounced back. However, certainly the overwhelming factor in these (and previous) wars is God. Even though we are in the dispensation of the church, the Jews are still God’s people and still will play a dramatic role in the end of time. One of the reasons the United States has been so greatly blessed is its attitude toward the Jewish people and its support of Israel.

13.    It is because of God’s unique relationship to the Jews that all of this is as it is.

Although it is not impossible for the Arabs to administer a crushing defeat to modern-day Israel, God is still preserving His people. It would be a mistake of any American president to treat Israel and any of her Arab enemies equally.

2Samuel 8:2b

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

mâdad (מָדַד) [pronounced maw-DAHD]

to measure

3^rd person masculine singular, Piel imperfect, with the 3^rd person masculine plural suffix

Strong’s #4058 BDB #551

I don’t know that I accept this definition entirely. Perhaps there is within these definitions, the idea of to evaluate, to take the measure of a man.

b^e (בְּ) [pronounced b^eh]

in, into, through; at, by, near, on, upon; with, before, against; by means of; among; within

a preposition of proximity

Strong’s# none BDB #88

chebel (חֶבֶל) [pronounced KHE^B-vel]

rope, cord, bands; a measuring rope; a territory, lot, portion; a group [of things]

masculine singular noun with the definite article

Strong’s #2256 BDB #286

shâkab (שָכַב) [pronounced shaw-KAH^BV]

to make [anyone] lie down, to prostrate; to lay down; to cause to rest; to pour out a vessel

Hiphil infinitive absolute

Strong’s #7901 BDB #1011

ʾêth (אֶח) [pronounced ayth]

generally untranslated; occasionally to, toward

indicates that the following substantive is a direct object affixed to the 3^rd person masculine plural suffix

Strong's #853 BDB #84

ʾerets (אֶרֶץ) [pronounced EH-rets]

earth (all or a portion thereof), land, territory, country, continent; ground, soil; under the ground [Sheol]

feminine singular noun with the directional hê

Strong's #776 BDB #75

2Samuel 8:2c

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

mâdad (מָדַד) [pronounced maw-DAHD]

to measure

3^rd person masculine singular, Piel imperfect

Strong’s #4058 BDB #551

sh^enêy (שְנֵי) [pronounced sh^en-Ā]

two, two of, a pair of, a duo of

dual numeral construct

Strong’s #8147 BDB #1040

chebel (חֶבֶל) [pronounced KHE^B-vel]

rope, cord, bands; a measuring rope; a territory, lot, portion; a group [of things]

masculine plural noun

Strong’s #2256 BDB #286

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced l^e]

to, for, towards, in regards to, with reference to, as to, with regards to, belonging to

directional/relational preposition

No Strong’s # BDB #510

mûwth (מוּת) [pronounced mooth]

to kill, to cause to die, to put to death, to execute

3^rd person masculine singular, Hiphil imperfect

Strong's #4191 BDB #559

w^e (or v^e) (וְ or וּ) [pronounced weh]

and, even, then; namely; when; since, that; though

simple wâw conjunction

No Strong’s # BDB #251

m^elôʾ (מְלֹא) [pronounced m^elow]

fulness, that which fills, that which is full; multitude, crowd [i.e., those which fill a city]

masculine singular construct

Strong’s #4393 BDB #571

chebel (חֶבֶל) [pronounced KHE^B-vel]

rope, cord, bands; a measuring rope; a territory, lot, portion; a group [of things]

masculine singular noun with the definite article

Strong’s #2256 BDB #286

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced l^e]

to, for, towards, in regards to, with reference to, as to, with regards to, belonging to

directional/relational preposition

No Strong’s # BDB #510

châyâh (חָיָה) [pronounced khaw-YAW]

to keep alive, to deliver from death, to grant life

Hiphil infinitive construct

Strong's #2421 & #2425 BDB #310

Here are the various theories of what is happening here:

What Does this Mean: “Two lots to kill and a complete lot to keep alive”?

Scripture

Text/Commentary

Barnes

David took great numbers of the Moabites prisoners of war, and made them lie down on the ground, and then divided them by a measuring line into three parts, putting two-thirds to death, and saving alive one-third.

Bullinger

Bullinger suggests that several of these nouns are metonyms. Therefore, v. 2 ought to read: And he struck Moab and measured them [the territory of he Moabites] with a line, casting them [the cities within Moab] to the ground. This does not fully explain, to my satisfaction, the remainder of this verse, which reads: And he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

Clarke

It has been generally conjectured that David, after he had conquered Moab, consigned two-thirds of the inhabitants to the sword; but I think the text will bear a meaning much more reputable to that king. The first clause of the verse seems to determine the sense; he measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground - to put to death, and with one line to keep alive. Death seems here to be referred to the cities by way of metaphor; and, from this view of the subject we may conclude that two-thirds of the cities, that is, the strong places of Moab, were erased; and not having strong places to trust to, the text adds, So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts, i.e., were obliged to pay tribute. The word line may mean the same here as our rod, i.e., the instrument by which land is measured. There are various opinions on this verse, with which I shall not trouble the reader.

Gill

...to put to death, and with one full line, to keep alive; that is, in measuring them with his lines, he divided them into two parts, one he put to death, and the other, the full line, which contained the most, he saved alive; though it seems according to our version, and so most understand it, that David slew two thirds, and saved one, and so Josephus. This must be understood of the army of the Moabites that fell into his hands, so Josephus, who persisted and refused to submit, not of all the inhabitants of the land. The Jews say, that the reason of this severe treatment of them was because they slew the father, and mother and brethren of David, whom he left to the care and custody of the king of Moab, when he fled from Saul (1Sam. 22:3); since after that they are heard no more of; though it should rather be imputed to their enmity against the people of Israel.

Henry

David stuck down the Moabites, and made them tributaries to Israel (2Sam. 8:2). He divided the country into three parts, two of which he destroyed, casting down the strong–holds, and putting all to the sword; the third part he spared, to till the ground and be servants to Israel. Matthew Henry goes on to discuss the severity of David’s actions here, saying that, if left at full strength, they would continue to be dangerous enemies of Israel.

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown

This refers to a well-known practice of Eastern kings, to command their prisoners of war, particularly those who, notorious for the atrocity of their crimes or distinguished by the indomitable spirit of their resistance, had greatly incensed the victors, to lie down on the ground. Then a certain portion of them, which was determined by lot, but most commonly by a measuring-line, were put to death. Our version makes him put two-thirds to death, and spare one-third. The Septuagint and Vulgate make one-half. This war usage was not, perhaps, usually practised by the people of God; but Jewish writers assert that the cause of this particular severity against this people was their having massacred David's parents and family, whom he had, during his exile, committed to the king of Moab.

Lightfoot

“He laid them on the ground and measured them with a cord, who should be slain and who should live;” and this is called meting out the valley of Succoth (Psalm 60:6).

Poole, Wesley

David made an examination of the land, divided it into 3 parts, and utterly destroyed the people in certain sections, and thus fulfilled Num. 24:17 (I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth).

R. B. Thieme Jr.

Here the picture is one line, say the middle line, is surrounded by their comrades. David, gives the command and all in the two outer lines are cut to pieces with blood flying all over the inner line and it impresses them. These men will become David's personal body guard in the future. They know what it means to be on the bad side of David and want none of it! 

Whatever is done here, it should be clear that David killed a lot of Moabites after the war. However, it should be clearly pointed out that David also saved a lot of soldiers alive. Destroying everyone of an enemy army was not unheard of in the ancient world, and God at times required that everyone—men, women and children—be destroyed. Even though this may seem harsh, David is allowing 1 out of 3 soldiers to live.

In any case, killing the enemy in war or at the conclusion of a war cannot be understood as some sort of unusually harsh treatment, as Guzik supposes. Nor is it savage and arbitrary, as Gordon calls it. War is a gruesome thing and there is no reason to think otherwise.

2Samuel 8:2d

Hebrew/Pronunciation

Common English Meanings

Notes/Morphology

BDB and Strong’s Numbers

wa (or va) (וַ) [pronounced wah]

and so, and then, then, and; so, that, yet, therefore; because

wâw consecutive

No Strong’s # BDB #253

hâyâh (הָיָה) [pronounced haw-YAW]

to be, is, was, are; to become, to come into being; to come to pass

3^rd person feminine singular, Qal imperfect

Strong's #1961 BDB #224

Môwʾâb (מוֹאָב) [pronounced moh-AW^BV]

of his father; transliterated Moab

masculine singular, proper noun

Strong’s #4124 BDB #555

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced l^e]

to, for, towards, in regards to, with reference to, as to, with regards to, belonging to

directional/relational preposition

No Strong’s # BDB #510

Dâvid (דָּוִד); also Dâvîyd (דָּוִיד) [pronounced daw-VEED]

beloved and is transliterated David

masculine proper noun

Strong’s #1732 BDB #187

lâmed (לְ) [pronounced l^e]

to, for, towards, in regards to, with reference to, as to, with regards to, belonging to

directional/relational preposition

No Strong’s # BDB #510

ʿôbêd (עֹבֵד) [pronounced ģoh-BADE]

a slave, a servant

masculine plural noun

Strong’s #5660 BDB #713

nâsâʾ (נָשָׂא) [pronounced naw-SAW]

those lifting up, bearers, those carrying; the ones exalting; those taking away

masculine plural construct, Qal active participle

Strong’s #5375 (and #4984) BDB #669

min^echâh (מִנְחָה) [pronounced min-HAWH]

tribute offering, gift, present; sacrifice, bloodless offering; [a general term for] offering

feminine singular noun

Strong’s #4503 BDB #585

In fact, now might be a good time to go back and review the entire set of prophecies given by Baalim:

To set the stage for this, Israel had just come out of Egypt, spent 40 or so years in the desert-wilderness, and now was traveling up along the east side of the Dead Sea to cross over into the Land of Promise from the east. In order to do this, Israel would travel through and/or along the borders of several nations, including Moab and Ammon. Israel’s only interest was in traveling through peacefully. However, these other nations too this as a military offensive and some even came out to do battle against the Jews.

Balak ben Zippor, King of Moab, hired Balaam, a gentile prophet—but a genuine prophet of God—to curse the Israelites. However, instead of cursing the Jews, Balaam blessed them. King Balak kept having Balaam move about, to see Israel from a different angle, hoping that he would curse Israel. However, he continued to bless Israel each time.

The Prophecies of Balaam

New King James Version

New Living Translation

“Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram,

 From the mountains of the east.

 ‘ Come, curse Jacob for me,

 And come, denounce Israel!’

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?

 And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?

For from the top of the rocks I see him,

 And from the hills I behold him;

 There! A people dwelling alone,

 Not reckoning itself among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob,

 Or number one-fourth of Israel?

 Let me die the death of the righteous,

 And let my end be like his!”

“Balak summoned me to come from Aram;

 the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.

   ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me!

 Come and announce Israel’s doom.’

But how can I curse those

 whom God has not cursed?

   How can I condemn those

 whom the Lord has not condemned?

I see them from the cliff tops;

 I watch them from the hills.

   I see a people who live by themselves,

 set apart from other nations.

Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?

Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?

   Let me die like the righteous;

 let my life end like theirs.”

(Num. 23:7b–10)

Balaam tells how Balak summoned him to curse the Jews, but, as he stands on the mountains overlooking the Jews, he cannot curse them, as God has not denounced them. The Jews are praised for their great numbers and Balaam ask to die as a Jew.

“Rise up, Balak, and hear!

 Listen to me, son of Zippor!

God is not a man, that He should lie,

 Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

 Has He said, and will He not do?

 Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Behold, I have received a command to bless;

  He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!

 Hear me, son of Zippor.

God is not a man, so he does not lie.

 He is not human, so he does not change his mind.

   Has he ever spoken and failed to act?

 Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Listen, I received a command to bless;

 God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!

(Num. 23:18b–20)

God does not change His mind. Balaam warns that he cannot overturn with his words whom God has blessed and whom God has cursed.

He has not observed iniquity in Jacob,

 Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel.

 The LORD his God is with him,

 And the shout of a King is among them.

God brings them out of Egypt;

 He has strength like a wild ox.

For there is no sorcery against Jacob,

 Nor any divination against Israel.

 It now must be said of Jacob

 And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’

Look, a people rises like a lioness,

 And lifts itself up like a lion;

 It shall not lie down until it devours the prey,

 And drinks the blood of the slain.”

No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;

 no trouble is in store for Israel.

   For the Lord their God is with them;

 he has been proclaimed their king.

God brought them out of Egypt;

 for them he is as strong as a wild ox.

No curse can touch Jacob;

 no magic has any power against Israel.

   For now it will be said of Jacob,

 ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’

These people rise up like a lioness,

 like a majestic lion rousing itself.

   They refuse to rest

 until they have feasted on prey,

 drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”

(Num. 23:21–24)

God is with Israel and God is not going to allow misfortune to befall them. God, their King, leads them out of Egypt. The powers of the various gods cannot harm Israel. Israel will rise up as a great nation, defeating their enemies as a lion killing his prey.

“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,

 The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,

The utterance of him who hears the words of God,

 Who sees the vision of the Almighty,

 Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,

the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

the message of one who hears the words of God,

 who sees a vision from the Almighty,

 who bows down with eyes wide open:

(Num. 24:3b–4)

What Balaam is saying is clearly a vision from God; these are the words of God.

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!

 Your dwellings, O Israel!

Like valleys that stretch out,

 Like gardens by the riverside,

 Like aloes planted by the LORD,

 Like cedars beside the waters.

He shall pour water from his buckets,

 And his seed shall be in many waters.

 “His king shall be higher than Agag,

 And his kingdom shall be exalted.

“How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;

 how lovely are your homes, O Israel!

They spread before me like palm groves,

 like gardens by the riverside.

They are like tall trees planted by the Lord,

 like cedars beside the waters.

Water will flow from their buckets;

 their offspring have all they need.

   Their king will be greater than Agag;

 their kingdom will be exalted.

(Num. 24:5–7)

While these men tromp through the desert in front of him, Balaam looks into their prophetic future, seeing their wonderful homes, gardens and trees. Agag was the king of the Amalekites (this was either a family name or a title of Amalekite kings). The king of Israel will be greater than Agag, who, at this time, is seen as the greatest king of that area.

“God brings him out of Egypt;

 He has strength like a wild ox;

 He shall consume the nations, his enemies;

 He shall break their bones

 And pierce them with his arrows.

‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion;

 And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’

 “ Blessed is he who blesses you,

 And cursed is he who curses you.”

“God brought them out of Egypt;

 for them he is as strong as a wild ox.

He devours all the nations that oppose him,

 breaking their bones in pieces,

 shooting them with arrows.

Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;

 like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,

 and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

(Num. 24:8–9)

God brings Israel out of Egypt. Israel has tremendous strength, like an ox. Right now, Israel does not look like much—like a lion crouching down—but the hearer is warned not to disturb her.

“The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,

 And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;

The utterance of him who hears the words of God,

 And has the knowledge of the Most High,

 Who sees the vision of the Almighty,

 Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,

 the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

the message of one who hears the words of God,

 who has knowledge from the Most High,

   who sees a vision from the Almighty,

 who bows down with eyes wide open:

(Num. 24:15b–16)

Balaam again reiterates that these are the words of God, that his vision is true because it comes from God. His eyes are wide open because he sees this great vision of God.

“I see Him, but not now;

 I behold Him, but not near;

 A Star shall come out of Jacob;

 A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

 And batter the brow of Moab,

 And destroy all the sons of tumult.

“And Edom shall be a possession;

 Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,

 While Israel does valiantly.

Out of Jacob One shall have dominion,

 And destroy the remains of the city.”

“I see him, but not here and now.

 I perceive him, but far in the distant future.

   A star will rise from Jacob;

 a scepter will emerge from Israel.

   It will crush the foreheads of Moab’s people,

 cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.

Edom will be taken over,

 and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered,

 while Israel marches on in triumph.

A ruler will rise in Jacob

 who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”

(Num. 24:17–19)

Balaam looks forward to two kings here—to David, who fulfills this prophecy with his defeat of Moab; and to Jesus Christ upon His return, Who will destroy all of the nations around Israel.

Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said:

 “ Amalek was first among the nations,

 But shall be last until he perishes.”

 Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message:

   “Amalek was the greatest of nations,

 but its destiny is destruction!”

(Num. 24:20–22)

The Amalekites make up the greatest nation at the time that Israel is making this trek along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. They live in the land between Palestine and Egypt, a portion of which the Jews wandered through. They will be trouble for Israel even to the time of David.

Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said:

 “Firm is your dwelling place,

 And your nest is set in the rock;

Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.

 How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”

Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message:

   “Your home is secure;

 your nest is set in the rocks.

 But the Kenites will be destroyed

 when Assyria takes you captive.”

(Num. 24:20–22)

The Kenites actually had mostly a good relationship with Israel. However, Assyria would eventually take them captive.

Then he took up his oracle and said:

 “Alas! Who shall live when God does this?

But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus,

And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber,

 And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.”

 Balaam concluded his messages by saying:

   “Alas, who can survive

 unless God has willed it?

Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;

 they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber,

 but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”

(Num. 24:23–24)

Balaam even looks forward to the destruction of Assyria.

As an aside, this passage tells us that God worked in Gentile nations before Israel became a nation to God (God’s unique client nation). God had Israel compose the Scriptures, but passages like this in Numbers tell us that God worked throughout all nations when there was positive volition.