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Wars of Scripture

Wars of King David

1003–970 BC Levant Status: ended Casualties: Tens of thousands across decades of campaign

David took the Jebusite stronghold of Zion and made it his city. He broke Philistia, smote Moab and measured them with a line, garrisoned Edom, slew 22,000 Syrians of Damascus, and stretched his border to the Euphrates. 2 Samuel 5–10. The high-water mark of Israel.

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Belligerents

  • Kingdom of Israel under David
  • Jebusites
  • Philistines
  • Moabites
  • Edomites
  • Ammonites
  • Aram-Zobah
  • Aram-Damascus

Casualties

Tens of thousands across decades of campaign

Key events

  • Jerusalem taken from the Jebusites by water-shaft (Joab first up)
  • Philistines broken at Baal-Perazim and again in the valley of Rephaim
  • Moab measured with two lines to put to death, one full line to keep alive
  • Edom garrisoned; 18,000 in the valley of salt
  • Hadadezer of Zobah broken; Damascus garrisoned; tribute from Hamath
  • Rabbah of Ammon taken — and Uriah the Hittite set in the forefront of the hottest battle

Aftermath

Borders from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates — the largest extent Israel ever held. The promise to David ('I will set up thy seed after thee') becomes the messianic line every later prophet looks back to.

Weapons & matériel

  • Bronze and iron swords
  • The Cherethites and Pelethites (royal guard)
  • The Thirty mighty men — Adino, Eleazar, Shammah, Benaiah son of Jehoiada

Sources

  • 2 Samuel 5–10
  • 1 Chronicles 11–20
  • Psalm 60
From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.