After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.
Comment: I find the warring aspects of the Bible unsettling. I have to allow God to override my rebellion at hearing of David killing off 22,000 here and hamstringing hundreds of horses, etc. And yet I realise that God had promised this land to Abraham and I refuse to let the devil persuade me that God’s ways are ever to be questioned. Well, I think that God allows me to be honest with Him but His way is always correct and I have to ultimately hand over my questioning to Him to help me sort through it! David was a magnificent leader of his people and we can see that David is becoming a very powerful king. Even now, some 3,000 years later we see people refusing to allow the Jews to live at peace in the land which You have granted them even though Your will has been underlined by the world governments of our day.
Prayer: Help me, O Lord to be honest in my feelings before You, but by faith to understand that Your Way is ultimately the very best.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your honest comments on this passage. It has helped me to come to terms with this same difficulty. God’s ways are ultimately best. He sees everything and knows everything. We need to leave these problems in His Hands, and trust Him. God bless you.
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It is a hard few verses but I have just watched the movie Moses. God is so patient and humans are so sinful that except for the cross we would all be ‘wiped out’.
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