What is the context?
The chapter surveys David’s victories beyond Israel’s borders. He subdues the Philistines and takes Metheg-ammah. The parallel in 1 Chronicles 18:1 names Gath and its villages.
The defeat of Moab includes a grim division: people are made to lie on the ground and measured with a cord, with some put to death and others spared. Those left become subject to David and pay tribute. The violence is part of the account and should not disappear behind a general description of national success.
David also defeats Hadadezer of Zobah and the Arameans who come to help him. He disables captured chariot horses while keeping a hundred, places garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and receives tribute. The summary credits the LORD with making David victorious.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Henry understands the measuring in Moab as two parts put to death and one spared. Gill reports that reading and an alternative in which the full line marks the larger group spared. The USCCB Bible notes also discuss the uncertainty about the proportions.
The BSB states the division by lengths without explaining a height or age test. We should therefore avoid confidently saying that only adult men were killed while children were spared.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.