So, David fought and won against the peoples that surrounded
his own nation. Per this chapter alone, He defeated Philistines, Moabites,
Edomites, Ammonites, Amalekites & Syrians. Additionally, some of the other
nations that he didn't fight became friends with and/or vassals of David and
contributed to his power, prestige and wealth.
And, within David's court, the leadership was firmly established also.
Joab was David's top general, Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests and David's
sons (over time) were also given power and position. Among the primary leaders
was one named Benaiah? It's unclear to me what exactly his job description was
under David's reign, but he was destined for later greatness for sure,
especially under Solomon. Incidentally, Benaiah’s
name is found 42 times in the Bible.
The overall point of this chapter is that David's kingdom
was established. In the areas of foreign and domestic affairs, he was solidly
in control. However, it wasn't David's own efforts or expertise that brought
about his success, it was God's providential provisions upon him which were the
key (II Samuel 8:6 & 14). Not that everything David did was necessarily
pretty. Remember, he was fighting wars! We naturally recoil a little when we
read that David cut the tendons in the hind legs of Hadadezer's war horses (II
Samuel 8:4). And, it may seem a mite odd to read that David "flipped
coins" (so-to-speak) to determine which Moabites would survive and which
one's would perish (II Samuel 8:2). Yet, in all of this, it was God's hand of
blessing upon him that produced his military and political prosperity.
Furthermore, if we could examine his physical, familial, financial or spiritual
prosperity, we would find God behind all of that as well. God was his
preserver.
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