Reference

2 Samuel 8:2

And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
1

And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg–ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2

And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

3

David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

4

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Dominion Over Creation

This verse describes human-on-human conflict and subjugation, specifically David's actions towards the Moabites, not humanity's authority or control over the natural world or other living things. The "creation" in the theme definition refers to the natural world, not other human societies.

Stewardship of Creation

This verse describes an act of conquest and subjugation, including the killing of a portion of the conquered people, which is an act of domination and destruction rather than care, responsibility, or accountable management of creation. The actions depicted are focused on military control and tribute, not on tending or keeping in a way that aligns with the theme of stewardship.