2 Samuel 8 · Verse 13

2 Samuel 8:13

And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
2 Samuel 8:13, King James Version

2 Samuel 8:13 in other translations

BSBAnd David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
WEBDavid earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt.
ASVAnd David gat him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.
YLTAnd David maketh a name in his turning back from his smiting Aram in the valley of Salt--eighteen thousand;
DARBYAnd David made him a name when he returned, after he had smitten the Syrians in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand men.
BBEAnd David got great honour for himself, when he came back, by the destruction of Edom in the valley of Salt, to the number of eighteen thousand men.
WebsterAnd David made him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of Salt, being eighteen thousand men.

What does 2 Samuel 8:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians--Instead of Syrians, the Septuagint version reads "Edomites," which is the true reading, as is evident from 2Sa 8:14. This conquest, made by the army of David, was due to the skilful generalship and gallantry of Abishai and Joab. (1Ch 18:12; compare Psa 60:1, title.) The valley was the ravine of salt (the Ghor), adjoining the Salt Mountain, at the southwestern extremity of the Dead Sea, separating the ancient territories of Judah and Edom [Robinson]. 2Sa 8:15-18. His Reign.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 David gat him a name - Became a very celebrated and eminent man. The Targum has it, David collected troops; namely, to recruit his army when he returned from smiting the Syrians. His many battles had no doubt greatly thinned his army. The valley of salt - Supposed to be a large plain abounding in this mineral, about a league from the city of Palmyra or Tadmor in the wilderness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 8:9-14

All the precious things David was master of, were dedicated things; they were designed for building the temple. The idols of gold David destroyed, 2Sa 5:21, but the vessels of gold he dedicated. Thus, in the conquest of a soul by the grace of the Son of David, what stands in opposition to God must be destroyed, every lust must be mortified and crucified, but what may glorify him must be dedicated; thus the property…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 8:9-14 →

2 Samuel 8:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּ֤עַשׂvai.Ya.'asand he madeH6213
דָּוִד֙da.VidDavidH1732
שֵׁ֔םShema nameH8034
בְּשֻׁב֕וֹbe.shu.Vowhen returned heH7725
מֵהַכּוֹת֥וֹme.ha.ko.Tofrom defeating heH5221
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֲרָ֖ם'a.RamAramH758
בְּגֵיא\־be.gei'-in [the] Valley ofH1516
מֶ֑לַחMe.lachSaltH4417
שְׁמוֹנָ֥הshe.mo.Naheight-H8083
עָשָׂ֖ר'a.SarteenH6240
אָֽלֶף\׃'A.lefthousandH505

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 8:13

  • 2 Kings 14:7

    He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

  • 2 Samuel 7:9

    And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

  • 1 Chronicles 18:12

    Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:11

    And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

  • Psalms 60:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shushan–eduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram–naharaim and with Aram–zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
gat him.
7:9; 1Ch 18:12; Ps 60:1; *title
smiting. Heb. his smiting. the valley of salt.
2Ki 14:7; 2Ch 25:11
being. or, slaying.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 8:12

    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.

  • 2 Samuel 8:13

    And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

  • 2 Samuel 8:14

    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.

Read all of 2 Samuel 8

2 Samuel 8:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ganó David fama cuando, volviendo de la rota de los Siros, hirió diez y ocho mil hombres en el valle de la sal.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David se fit un nom, en revenant d’avoir frappé les Syriens dans la vallée du Sel, au nombre de 18 000.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David machte sich einen Namen, als er zurückkam, nachdem er die Syrer im Salztal geschlagen hatte, 18000 Mann.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fecit quoque sibi David nomen cum reverteretur capta Syria in valle Salinarum, cæsis decem et octo millibus: