שמואל ב, פרק ח׳, פסוק ה׳

As the battlefield expands, King David faces a new military coalition, leading to a crushing victory that permanently changes the region's balance of power. The kingdom of Aram-Damascus, an Aramean nation located in Syria with Damascus as its capital [ביאור שטיינזלץ], arrives to assist the kingdom of Aram-Zobah. The specific identification of this nation distinguishes it from the various other Aramean kingdoms operating during that era, such as Aram-Naharaim, Aram-Maacah, and Aram-Beth-Rehob [רד״ק, אברבנאל].

The two Aramean armies combine their forces to wage war against David. In response, David advances to meet them head-on and delivers a massive blow, resulting in the fall of twenty-two thousand enemy soldiers. Following this heavy defeat, Aram-Damascus acknowledges David's superiority. They surrender completely and are subjugated under his rule, allowing David to station governors in their territory and collect a regular annual tax [אברבנאל].

This overwhelming military success carries deep spiritual meaning. The scale of the triumph shows that David’s victories are completely supernatural, leading everyone who witnesses them to recognize that his salvation comes directly from God. Beyond the political prestige gained from this campaign, David acquires tremendous wealth and spoils of war. He gathers these riches with the specific purpose of dedicating them to the future construction of God's House in Jerusalem [אברבנאל].