David’s Victories
1After this, David defeated the Philistines,a subdued them, and took Metheg-ammahb from Philistine control.c, d 2He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.e
3David also defeated Hadadezerf son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4David captured 1,700 horsemeng and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horsesh and kept 100 chariots.i
5When the Arameans of Damascusj came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The LORD made David victorious wherever he went.k
7David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.l 8King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betahm and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.
9When King Toi of Hamathn heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. 11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subduedo — 12from Edom,p Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David made a reputationq for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomitesr in the Valley of Salt.s, t 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.u The LORD made David victorious wherever he went.v
15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.w
16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
17Zadok son of Ahitub
and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
Seraiah was court secretary;
18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over
the Cherethites and the Pelethites;x
and David’s sons were chief officials.y
Footnotes:
a. 8:1-18 1Ch 18:1-17
b. 8:1 Or took control of the mother city ; Hb obscure
c. 8:1 LXX reads them, and David took tribute out of the hand of the Philistines
d. 8:1 2Sm 3:18
e. 8:2 Nm 24:17
f. 8:3 2Sm 10:16-19
g. 8:4 LXX, DSS read 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen
h. 8:4 Jos 11:6
i. 8:4 Or chariot horses
j. 8:5 Gn 14:15; Ac 9:2-27
k. 8:6 2Sm 8:14
l. 8:7 2Kg 11:10; 2Ch 23:9
m. 8:8 Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah
n. 8:9 Gn 10:15-18; Ezk 47:16-17
o. 8:11 1Kg 7:51; 1Ch 26:26
p. 8:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Aram ; 1Ch 18:11
q. 8:13 2Sm 7:9
r. 8:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Arameans ; 1Ch 18:12
s. 8:13 = the Dead Sea region
t. 8:13 2Kg 14:7
u. 8:14 Gn 25:23; 27:29-40; Nm 24:18
v. 8:14 Dt 20:4; 2Sm 8:6
w. 8:15 1Kg 10:9; Ps 99:4; Jr 9:23; 22:3,15; 23:5; 33:15; Ezk 18:5
x. 8:18 2Sm 23:20-23
y. 8:18 LXX; MT reads were priests ; 1Ch 18:17