Bible Strands
2 Samuel 8:1
Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator documents David’s military campaign against the Philistines during the early consolidation of his royal reign. The account follows the establishment of David’s throne and precedes the subsequent subjugation of neighboring nations.
The words — וַֽיְהִי אַחֲרֵי כֵן (va/yi.Hi 'a.cha.rei Khen) translates literally as "and it was after thus," functioning as a chronological marker. וַיַּכְנִיעֵם (va/i.yakh.ni.'E/m) means "and he subdued them," denoting the forced political and military submission of the defeated Philistines.
The thread — This campaign parallels the summary of David’s victories in 1 Chronicles 18:1 and directly fulfills the promise in 2 Samuel 7:9 that God would cut off his enemies. The captured city Metheg-ammah links to the earlier reference to Ammah in 2 Samuel 2:24.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that territorial control and enemy subjugation are recorded as concrete historical outcomes under David’s command. It asks the reader to track how defeated cities and nations transition from independent powers to tributary subjects of the Davidic monarchy.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg–ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 18:1 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.
- 2 Samuel 2:24 But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.
- 2 Samuel 7:9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like that of the greatest in the land.
- 2 Samuel 21:15 Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.