2 Samuel 8 - Introduction

VIII.

This chapter contains a general summary of David’s successful wars, closing with the mention (2 Samuel 8:16) of the chief officers of his kingdom. The expression with which it opens, “after this it came to pass,” is a formula of connection and transition, as we might say, “and besides this;” that it does not denote chronological sequence is plain from the fact that it is also used in 2 Samuel 10:1, of the beginning of the war with the Ammonites and Syrians, the conclusion of which is mentioned in this chapter, 2 Samuel 8:5; 2 Samuel 8:11.

The parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 18.

This chapter may be considered as the close of the direct narrative of David’s reign, the rest of the book being occupied with more detailed accounts of particular incidents occurring at various periods during its course. Thus 2 Samuel 9 treats of his kindness to Mephibosheth in connection with his affection for his departed friend Jonathan; 2 Samuel 10-12 of the war with the Ammonites and Syrians in connection with the story of Bathsheba (this is the only one of David’s wars treated of in detail, and this evidently for the reason just given); 2 Samuel 13-19 contain the story of Absalom’s rebellion, and 2 Samuel 20 of that of Bichri; 2 Samuel 21 is an account of the famine in punishment of Saul’s sin — at what period is quite unknown — closing with incidents of several Philistine campaigns; 2 Samuel 22 is a psalm of David; 2 Samuel 23, another psalm, followed by a more detailed account of the heroes during the whole reign; and the book closes with 2 Samuel 24, David’s sin in numbering the people, and his consequent punishment, with no note of time to show in what period of his reign it occurred.