2 Samuel 8:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary,

NIV: Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;

NASB: Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe.

CSB: Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary;

NLT: Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.

KJV: And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

NKJV: Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

Second Samuel 8:15–18 lists David's officials. These men have helped lead Israel as they fought their enemies and secured their borders (2 Samuel 8:2–14). They include army commander Joab, priests Zadok and Ahimelech, David's recorder and secretary, and his elite guard. David's sons are called priests, likely meaning special counselors in this context. First Chronicles contains other lists of his warriors and officials (1 Chronicles 11:12–47; 12; 15:1–28; 16:4–7).

In 2 Samuel 8, God protects David's kingdom. God has promised David an eternal, peaceful dynasty (2 Samuel 7:10–12). True peace won't come until Jesus is king, but God still protects His people as David defeats the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites, and Hadadezer's army. David collects spoils, establishes garrisons, and allies with Toi, Hadadezer's grateful enemy. His military, religious, and civil officials contribute greatly to his success. Secure in his reign, David honors Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son and King Saul's grandson, instead of killing him as a rival (2 Samuel 9).

Second Samuel 8 recounts David's military victories and names his top officials. After bringing the ark to Jerusalem, David asked to build a temple. Instead, God promised him a lasting dynasty and, ultimately, peace from his enemies (2 Samuel 7). Until then, David's army commanders, administrators, priests, and sons join David's fight against enemy nations from Syria to Edom. Because of David's skill in battle, the new king of Amon will mistake David's kindness for espionage and foolishly provoke the army of Israel to war (2 Samuel 10).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

Accessed 12/7/2025 6:51:51 AM