The Reading
The Summary
Shemuel Bet Chapter 8
This chapter returns to a description of David’s military activities as king of Israel. He goes to war against Moav and subdues them, killing two-thirds of the population and retaining the rest of the citizens as servants and tributaries. David also smites Hadadezer ben Rehov, the King of Sobah, and captures many officers, riders and horses from him; he hamstrings all of the horses except what he needed for one hundred chariots of his own.
When the Arameans come to assist the armies of Sobah, David defeats them as well, killing twenty-two thousand soldiers. David takes gold and brass from the cities of Sobah and from Aram and brings it to Jerusalem to consecrate to Hashem. Toi, King of Hamath, sends his son as a messenger to David to salute and bless him for defeating their common enemy, Haddadezer. David is presented with vessels of silver, gold and brass, which he likewise dedicates to Hashem.
Throughout all of David’s military campaigns and endeavors, Hashem protected and assisted him. David was able to acquire an international reputation for his remarkable successes, conquering much territory and establishing a governing presence in the land of Edom. He consistently dedicated all of the spoils of war that he plundered to Hashem.
The chapter concludes by mentioning that David ruled justly and charitably over all of Israel. A description is provided of the various cabinet members that he appointed and that constituted his court or government; an infrastructure is in place that can provide support and stability to the nation as a whole.
There are many details here that would warrant more lengthy discussion, such as the reason for targeting Moav or occupying the territory of Edom. For brevity’s sake, I will confine my remarks to some general observations.
This chapter represents a dramatic shift from the spiritual preoccupations of the previous chapter back to the messy details of military operations. This juxtaposition is surely deliberate. David was told in Chapter 7 that he would not be the person to build the Temple; his job was to invest his energies in subduing the enemies of Israel and consolidating his government so that his successor could construct the permanent home for the Divine Presence.
Therefore, David immediately throws himself into this important project, eliminating enemies, securing borders, and fine-tuning the particulars of his administration. The Temple can only rest upon the foundation of a peaceful and just society; when injustice and violence prevail, it cannot abide. David is working hard to create the ideal environment for the Divine Presence to dwell in Israel.
We see that even at the pinnacle of military and political success, David remains a humble and devoted servant of Hashem. He observes the Torah’s commandment that the king not accumulate excess horses, by disposing of all but what he needs for one hundred chariots. Similarly, he refrains from amassing wealth in his treasure houses, opting instead to consecrate the spoils of war to the service of God or for the sake of the future Temple. He utilizes his fame and fortune only to glorify the Almighty and serves as the agent of Hashem in establishing justice and equity in his kingdom, in fulfillment of the tradition of Abraham “that he will command his children and his household after him, to guard the way of Hashem, to do charity and justice.”
David understands that these are the principles that will ensure the continued existence of the Jewish people in the Holy Land and he governs accordingly. The fact that other “relatives” of the nation of Israel – Moav (from Lot) and Edom (from Esav) – known for their corruption and injustice, are conquered by David accentuates the point that he embodies the legacy of Avraham and is therefore entitled to the blessings that are guaranteed by it.