2 Samuel 8:2-4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 He also defeated Moab and measured them with a line. Making them lie down on the ground, he measured two lengths of line for death, and a full length for life.[a] Thus the Moabites became subject to David, paying tribute. 3 (A)David then defeated Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to re-establish his dominion at the River.(B) 4 David captured from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred for his chariots.(C)
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- 8:2 Two lengths…a full length for life: usually taken to mean that two-thirds of them were executed; but it could mean that two-thirds were spared, if the line was used full length in their case but doubled on itself to make “two lines” for those to be put to death. Note the contrasting good relations in 1 Sm 22:3–4.
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