The Ammonites Are Defeated: The relationship between Israel and Ammon around this time is unclear. In 8:12 the Ammonites are one of the peoples subdued by David, but the relationship between David and the Ammonite king Nahash had been good. Chapter 8, which gives a brief summary of all the campaigns and battles that helped David to consolidate and extend his power, perhaps was written after the events described. This kind of detailed account of a particular military campaign is somewhat unusual and may be included as an illustration of David’s dealings with others and of how such battles were fought and won. But the main purpose in this case is probably to provide background and context for the story of Bathsheba and Uriah (ch. 11). It is possible that the stage of the war described in ver…