Bible Strands
2 Samuel 8:14
He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records David’s military consolidation after the Valley of Salt campaign and before the summary of his righteous reign. The passage describes David’s actions toward Edom within a chronological list of his territorial expansions.
The words — The text employs נְצִבִים (neṣîḇîm) for “garrisons” and וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (wayyāśem) for “he placed.” These terms denote the physical stationing of troops and the resulting administrative control.
The thread — The subjugation of Edom echoes the ancestral promise that Esau’s lineage would serve Jacob’s (Genesis 27:29, Genesis 25:23). The narrative fulfills the generational shift initiated in Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 27:37).
Why it lands — The text states that David’s military success resulted from divine enablement, not merely human strategy. A reader must acknowledge that territorial authority in this account is explicitly tied to the LORD’s active intervention.
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 he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.
Cross-references
- Genesis 27:29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
- Genesis 25:23 and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
- Genesis 27:37 But Isaac answered Esau: “Look, I have made him your master and given him all his relatives as servants; I have sustained him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?”
- Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
- 2 Samuel 8:6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- 1 Kings 22:47 And there was no king in Edom; a deputy served as king.
- 1 Chronicles 18:13 He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- Psalms 60:8 Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- Psalms 108:9 Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- Psalms 121:4 Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.