David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.
Parallel translations
- WEB He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
- KJV And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
- NKJV Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.
- NASB And he defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and a full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.
- NLT David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David defeated Moab, executing some captives and sparing others, who became tribute-paying servants. The narrative records the harsh realities of ancient warfare while showing David's dominion expanding.
Overview
David subjugated Moab, and the surviving Moabites became vassals bringing tribute. The measuring with a line describes a method of deciding who would live and who would die, reflecting the severity of conquest in that era. Scripture reports these events plainly as part of how God established David's kingdom over surrounding nations.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Num 24:17I 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.
- 1 Sam 10:27But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.
- 2 Sam 8:6Then 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.
- Ps 60:8Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- Ps 72:10–11May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- 1 Chr 18:2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to David and brought him tribute.
- 2 Sam 12:31David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
- 2 Kgs 3:4–27Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he would render to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
- Isa 36:16Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and drink water from his own cistern,
- Ps 108:9Moab is My washbasin; upon Edom I toss My sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
- 2 Kgs 1:1After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.
- 1 Sam 14:47After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them.
- Judg 3:29–30At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men. Not one of them escaped.
- 2 Chr 26:8The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, for he had become exceedingly powerful.
- 2 Kgs 17:3Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute.
- 2 Sam 8:12–14from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
- Ps 83:6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites,
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God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
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