Cataloguing Subjigation, Geopolitical Positioning

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Group meeting January 29 to study 2 Samuel 8.  This is a grand overview of David's establishment of Israel in the full extent of Palestine, for the first time since they entered the land.  His influence finally encompasses the whole of the land promised to Abraham.  There are still some rather interesting details that are peculiar in light of David, who he is, where he came from, and what happens to he and other kings later in Israel's history.

Read through the chapter a few times.  It sounds a lot like an old history book with snippets of detail, names, summaries of actions, and so on.  In some sense it can be boring, but on the other hand it can be rather fun if you do it with a map and try to get a sense of the geographical context.  That is also difficult because not everything can be found...

This is one of the times when a very good, large, Bible dictionary becomes handy.  I'll have one or two available on Thursday, but if you can acquire one, you will find it very handy as time goes on.  As you go through the chapter, jot down questions, notes, follow Bible translation cross references, and check out footnotes and other references.  Be sure, when you see a 'translation note' in one, that you also check other translations.  Phone/tablet apps are probably the easiest way to do that.

After you have gone through a few times with your own notes and questions, go back through with the questions below:

• Consider the timing.  'After this' you would think would mean after the preceding chapter, but remember the timing of the last chapter (7:1).  So how you think the editor of this material uses that phrase or what does he mean by it?  Why might he be using it here? What can you learn about his view of what he is compiling?
• Read verse 1 in a few translations.  They're not sure what to do with whatever David did to some city exactly.  It literally reads, 'David took bridle of the mother city from the hand of the Philistines.' What do you make of that?  It could be a place, 'Metheg Hammah' (KJV), but we're not sure where that would be since it's never used elsewhere.  The word is made up of two others: 'bridle' and 'cubit' but cubit is the 'mother' measure, so it's thought that it really means 'foundational' or 'base of all other things', or something; hence 'bridle of the mother' with city.  Considering this reference is never used before, or after, what do you think it means or refers to?
• In Moab David kills two-thirds of the survivors?  Read 1 Samuel 22:1-3, and then remember that David's great grandmother was Naomi (the Moabitess).  Why do you think that with Moab, he's so brutal?
• See if you can find Zobah on a map.  I'll have one to show on Thursday, but it's not that easy to pin down.  On the one I have, it's just above Israel, which puts it between Israel and the Euphrates River.  Yet Hadadezer is on his way to establish his rule at 'the River' which would be north of him.  Why is David harassing him that far north and not on the border with Israel?
• The Arameans from Damascus come out to help (which would put him between two enemies), he defeats them too.  What benefit can you think of for David to take on these foes?  Why's he picking these fights?
• Hamath is even further north, and this king doesn't fight, but brings David gifts.  What is going on for David here?  What is happening to Israel, and to their king?
• David dedicates all the stuff he gets to the Lord.  Why not tithe?  All of what Joram, son of Toi, king of Hamath brings he dedicates to the Lord.  Why do you think he does that?
• In verse 13, it says that David made a name for himself.  Could this be a fulfillment of God's promise in the previous chapter? (7:9) After what David accomplishes, who knows his name?
• Find the 'Valley of Salt' on a map.  He's attacked enemies in the north, he's defeated enemies to he southwest, now more Arameans are defeated in the southeast.  On a map, how secure is Israel now?
• What does it mean that David put garrisons in these places he defeated?  What's the benefit of doing that?
• The chapter winds up with a list of who does what.  What surprises do you see?  Did you catch the name swap?  
• What do David's sons do?  Look up the word here.  What is it really?  Why do you think translators had a real hard time with that?  Why do you think David wants his sons doing such work?

That should keep us busy for a while.  We'll be doing well to get passed the first few verses the way these questions were working out.  It took me two days to get through these!  I hope to see you all Thursday!