Introduction
In the previous chapter we are in the sanctuary. In the chapter we have before us now, we find ourselves in the battle outside the sanctuary. When David has been with God in the sanctuary, he comes out strengthened and can gain victories over the enemies. David spreads to all sides the glory of Israel and of his reign. In this, He is an example of the Lord Jesus. When the Lord Jesus comes out of the sanctuary, He will subdue and judge all His enemies and establish His kingdom on all the earth.
The contents of this chapter can also be found in 2 Samuel 8. Following the events described in this chapter, David wrote Psalm 60 (Psa 60:1-2).
The record of David’s victories must have been a great encouragement for the returned exiles. They too have to deal with all kinds of adversaries. They return from exile in a land that has remained untended for seventy years.
David owes his victories not to himself, but to God. It is to that God that the heart of the remnant is directed above all. Whom He has been for David He is also for them. For them and for us, “Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8).
1 - 13 The Victories of David
1 Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute. 3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah [as far as] Hamath, as he went to establish his rule to the Euphrates River. 4 David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved [enough] of them for 100 chariots. 5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 men of the Arameans. 6 Then David put [garrisons] among the Arameans of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went. 7 David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils. 9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And [Hadoram brought] all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek. 12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.
David successively conquers the Philistines in the west (verse 1), the Moabites in the east (verse 2), the king of Zoba and the Arameans, or Syrians, in the north (verses 3-11) and the Edomites in the south (verses 12-13). He is successful because the LORD is with him (verses 6,13), for the LORD is always with the one who is with Him.
This does not mean that the victories are just handed over to David. He really has to fight hard for it. To wage these wars he also had a hard training school during the time he was on the run from Saul. The Lord also gives us victory, but He does so only if we are fully committed to Him.
By defeating the Philistines (verse 1) David subdues an enemy who has been a plague to Israel for many years, already from the time of the judges. They even distressed Saul so much that he committed suicide and they killed his sons (1Sam 31:1-6). The Philistines have also conquered cities of Israel and started to live there themselves (1Chr 10:7). David breaks their power. By taking Gath and its towns out of the power of the Philistines, he now conquers cities instead of the other way around. Later on, the killing of some of the remaining giants is reported (1Chr 20:4-8).
David also defeats the Moabites (verse 2). Just like about defeating the Philistines, the chronicler is brief about that. He devotes only one verse to it, as well as to the defeat of the Philistines. The result is that the Moabites serve David and have to bring him tribute. In so doing David continues to exercise his power over them, thereby averting the danger that apart from him they again will develop into a dangerous power.
The moment Hadadezer, the king of Zoba, wants to establish his power, David defeats him (verse 3). He makes the enemies prisoners, and he makes the means on which they have trusted, powerless (verse 4). If the enemies unite to fight together against David, this unification is only like the gathering of “sheaves to the threshing floor” (verse 5; Mic 4:11-12). David doesn’t have to fight against all these realms separately, but can defeat them in one war.
The rich booty of bronze from this battle will be used for the construction of the temple (verse 8). “King David” – David twice emphatically is called king (verses 10-11) – sanctifies for the LORD both what he has received in gifts and what he has conquered in booty, to be used for the construction and decoration of the temple.
By defeating Hadadezer David gives reason for joy to Tou the king of Hamath (verses 9-11). Defeating enemies has therefore a richer effect than just personal joy. Just as failure has evil consequences for others (1Chr 13:6-10), so a victory in the power of God has good effect for others. It is wise of Tou to thank David for that. It is an example for us to make sure we become friends with those of whom we see that God is with them.
The literal enemies of David and Israel represent spiritual enemies for us. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). It is good to realize that in ourselves there is no strength to overcome any enemy. Just as there are various enemies of David, so sin, using the evil powers in the heavenly realms, has many manifestations, such as jealousy and pride.
All these manifestations are enemies who want to influence our lives. The Lord wants to give us the strength to overcome those enemies. The armor of God is given to us for this (Eph 6:13-18). If we have put it on, without forgetting one part, we will remain standing.
David also puts “garrisons” in two hostile territories. He does so in Aram, or Syria (verse 6), and in Edom (verse 13). This teaches us that once an enemy has been defeated, it must be kept down. A defeated enemy must not be given the chance to get up again.
We can also see these two enemies in a different way. Syria represents an enemy who wants to take away the blessings of the land, he comes to take them from us. In practice, this means that, for example, we cannot enjoy the Lord’s things through all kinds of pressure. Edom, that is Esau, is known for not being interested in the blessing of the land at all. It is the indifference to the things of God that can also bother us. Edom represents the flesh that is only interested in here-and-now (Gen 25:29-34). It must be held in subjection, for on the cross God “condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3).
14 - 17 Reign and Officials of David
14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud [was] recorder; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar [were] priests, and Shavsha [was] secretary; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David [were] chiefs at the king’s side.
We see in these verses that David also provides peace internally by maintaining the law. He provides a good army, because he realizes that, although all his enemies have been overcome, they continue to pose a threat. The army is not only there to maintain the peace toward the peoples around them, it is also used to maintain peace among the members of the people themselves. Also internally there must be no outbreak of revolt. God gives man power, not so that man himself becomes great as a result, but so that he may do good with it. David’s reign responds to this.
If we apply this to the life of the church, the lesson is that even when there are tensions between her members, the true David is ready to restore peace and rest. The Lord Jesus has an ‘army’, which are His gifts to the church (Eph 4:11-12). They give indications through which tensions may disappear.
An example of these tensions and how they are removed can be seen from the very beginning of the church (Acts 6:1-6). There we read that a group of believers feel disadvantaged. They believe that, compared to others, they do not get enough. If this grumble does not disappear quickly, it will have a devastating effect on the church. The ‘army’ of the Lord Jesus, the apostles, comes with the solution, by which the grumbling stops. This solution does not lie in the use of violence, but in meeting the complainants wherever possible.
Such a solution requires a spiritual attitude, that is to say the mind of the Lord Jesus. Each of us has a responsibility to ensure that in our own lives and in the church of God the right of God is upheld, which means obeying what He says in His Word. This cannot happen by force or violence, but by the Spirit, Who works in leaders whom the Lord has given. These leaders are not officially appointed persons. There is no such thing in the Bible in relation to the church. They are servants trained and formed by the Lord in the school of life. We are warned to obey them and to submit to them (Heb 13:17).