2 Samuel 8:12-14
Verse 14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s many battles on the east were now drawing to a close. The last to be taken down were the Edomites to the south and east of the Dead Sea. Once again the king after God’s own heart is basking in the glow of fame. The chant that had been so popular in the days of King Saul, “Saul has killed thousands but David has killed tens of thousands” were being upgraded to even higher numbers because of all the success God was giving His man, David. These battles had incurred more than 67,000 casualties for Israel’s enemies.
During the battle with the Edomites, David and his men struck down 18,000 men. After conquering the area he again set up military strongholds throughout their land. This shows the broader picture of this conquest. Unlike David building garrisons and making Damascus a stronghold city, David was building garrisons throughout the nation of Edom. David also made the Edomites subject to his throne.
Edom was the last of the east side nations to be conquered but this may have been one of the harder battles to have. In the battles that had been won they had sometimes been facing an opponent who had common ancestry. David didn’t shirk back from the idea of going up against someone that was relation because he wasn’t looking at earthly bloodlines, he was following God’s direction to Samuel when the old prophet came to anoint him as the future king, “man look at the outside appearance but God looks at the heart.” David knew the heart of these people was rotten because they weren’t serving God.
Of the nations on the east, four were relatives albeit a few generations removed from the current members of the family. The Arameans were descendants of Shem, Noah’s son and so were the Israelites. Other nations that are listed as being conquests of David were also relation, getting closer and closer in blood relationship.
The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot, with his two daughters after God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. That makes them near blood relation. But then there were the Edomites, who were descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, making the Edomites the closest in relation, as far as bloodline, in religious practices they couldn’t be further apart. Family relationships can be hard, especially when some don’t love the Lord.
Making It Personal
Do you find family relationships hard when there are different views about Christ? What can you do in those situations to best represent Jesus? Do you have a group of people who are the family of the faith in your life?
Making It Personal Kids
Are most in your family Christians? If there are some who aren’t, do you struggle to get along with them? How can you help your family know Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for calling us to be set apart as Your people. Help us live in ways that clearly show that we are Your people. Give us a heart for the lost, especially those in our family. In Jesus’ name, amen.