DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus

\Home\

Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2014 July 13



Silius Italicus: De bello punico Manuscript (Lat. XII. 68) - (c. 1450)
Pesellino (probably 1422 - 1457)
Renaissance Style
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Today's illustration symbolizes the chariots, charioteers, and horses destroyed by David in the account below.
     2 Samuel 8 summarizes various battles fought by David -- [parallel passages: 2 Chronicles 18 and 1 Kings 11:14-18]. He defeated the Philistines (1). He defeated the Moabites (fulfilling the prophecy in Numbers 24:17) and put two-thirds of them to death. Previously, David had left his parents with the Moabites for safekeeping (1 Samuel 22:3-4). But this seems to be a temporary period of friendliness, perhaps because the Moabites hoped to gain military advantage by helping David against their mutual enemy, Saul, and because David's grandmother was a Moabite. According to Jewish tradition, the Moabites killed David's parents. This is not substantiated in Scripture; but Moab and Israel were constant enemies, with few exceptions in their history. For whatever reason, this animosity returned at the time that David and the Moabites had the battle recorded in this chapter (2). Next, David defeated Hadadezer, whose kingdom bordered on the Euphrates River. Of Hadadezer's chariots and horsemen destroyed by David, he reserved a hundred chariots, possible for transportation purposes. When Syrians came to help Hadadezer, David also defeated them. He put garrisons in their territory and put them to tribute. The LORD preserved David wherever he went. And David took much spoil from his campaign against Hadadezer (3-8). One of the enemies of Hadadezer, Toi, the king of Hamath, congratulated David for his victory over Hadadezer; and he sent Joram with gifts for David. David dedicated these gifts and the spoils from the nations he conquered to the LORD (9-12). David's reputation grew; and he put garrisons in Edom; and Edom became subservient to David. And the LORD preserved him wherever he went (13-14). So David ruled all of Israel in judgment and justice. The chapter closes with a list of several of David's chief officers (15-18).


2 Samuel 8

     1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
     2 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.
     3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
     9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer, 10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: 11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; 12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
     13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men. 14 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.
     15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. 16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.




Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2014, Scott Souza