2 Samuel 8:9

DAVID'S DOMAIN WAS EXTENDED STILL FURTHER

"When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him, and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze; these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold which he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, king of Zobab."

"Toi, king of Hamath" (2 Samuel 8:9). Hamath was the northeastern bastion of the Solomonic Empire (2 Kings 14:25). Until the times of David, "It was the principal city of upper Syria, situated in the valley of the Orontes River. The people of Hamath were descendants of Ham and Canaan (Genesis 10:18)."[14] Significantly, David did not have to fight to make Hamath tributary, because they readily consented to pay tribute out of gratitude for David's defeat of their traditional enemy Hadadezer.

"Present-day interest in Hamath derives from the fact that capital city of the Hittites, a race whose very existence until recently was doubted in spite of the clear testimony of the Bible; but whose marvelous empire has been lately proved historical by Egyptian records and by cuneiform inscriptions."[15]

"These also King David dedicated to the Lord" (2 Samuel 8:11). All of the great stores of gold, silver, bronze and other precious articles which David appropriated from the nations which he subdued were "dedicated to the Lord." There is little doubt that David, in these actions, was storing up the great wealth with which Solomon would construct that temple which God had forbidden David to build.

"And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze" (2 Samuel 8:10). R. P. Smith interpreted the following verses from the Psalms as David's joyful feelings about this mission from Toi.[16]

Thou didst deliver me from strife with the peoples;

Thou didst make me the head of the nations;

People whom I had not known served me.

As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me;

Foreigners came cringing to me (Psalms 18:43-44).