2 Samuel 8:3

THE VICTORIES OF DAVID ALL THE WAY TO THE EUPHRATES

"David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, the king of Zobab, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobab, David slew twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Beta and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze."

"Hadadezer" (2 Samuel 8:3). This is the same person who is called Hadarezer (in 2 Samuel 10:16 in some versions) and throughout Chronicles.

"David hamstrung all the chariot horses" (2 Samuel 8:4). This was the greatest damage that could be done to a hostile military force, rendering their horses unserviceable. This was cruelty of a most contemptible kind; and a similar deed by Simeon and Levi resulted in Jacob's unfavorable reference to it in their final blessing (Genesis 49:6).

However, it seems that God approved of this action in warfare. David no doubt felt that Joshua's hamstringing the horses of an hostile force confronting him during the Conquest (Joshua 11:6,9), an action which was approved and commanded by God Himself, justified his similar action here. Nevertheless his keeping the horses for a hundred chariots was contrary to the spirit of the Law, "Which forbade horses to the Hebrews in either agriculture or war."[11] Presumably David intended to use them for formal occasions of state in Jerusalem.

"And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went" (2 Samuel 8:6). This is the thought that dominates the whole chapter. It was not the superior military ability of David, nor the overwhelming size of his armies, nor the genius of his strategy that resulted in these amazing victories. They were the doings of the Lord. Furthermore, God's purpose in all this power being conveyed to the Chosen People should not be overlooked. In the plans designed in the eternal purpose of God, the preservation and continuity of the people of Israel, through whom the Messiah was promised, was absolutely necessary; and the development of Israel as a strong military state was a basic requirement. Without such a strong Israel, the Chosen Race would soon have been swallowed up by such godless powers as Assyria.

"Shields of gold." The meaning of the word that is thus translated "is not clear."[12] DeHoff thought that these objects, "Were probably costly ornaments worn by the Syrian soldiers."[13] Whatever these might have been, they cannot be identified with the "shields of beaten gold" which were made by King Solomon (1 Kings 10:16).