David’s victories
1In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.
2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.
3Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at18:3 Or to restore his control over the River Euphrates. 4David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8From Tebah18:8 Hebrew Tibhath, a variant of Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.
9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.
11King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.
12Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s officials
14David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek son of Abiathar were priests;
Shavsha was secretary;
17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;
and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
David Wins Many Battles
1While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Gath away from the Philistines. He also captured the villages around Gath.
2David also won the battle over the people of Moab. They were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him.
3David fought against Hadadezer in the area of Hamath. Hadadezer was king of Zobah. He had gone to set up his monument at the Euphrates River. 4David captured 1,000 of Hadadezer’s chariots, 7,000 chariot riders and 20,000 soldiers on foot. He cut the legs of all but 100 of the chariot horses.
5The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them. 6David stationed some soldiers in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The people of Aram were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him. The Lord helped David win his battles wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer. He brought the shields to Jerusalem. 8He took a huge amount of bronze from Tebah and Kun. Those towns belonged to Hadadezer. Later, Solomon used the bronze to make the huge bronze bowl for washing. He also used it to make the pillars and many other bronze objects for the temple.
9Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had won the battle over the entire army of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. 10So Tou sent his son Hadoram to King David. Hadoram greeted David. He praised him because David had won the battle over Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. So Hadoram brought David all kinds of things made out of gold, of silver and of bronze.
11King David set those things apart for the Lord. He had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations. The nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek.
12Abishai struck down 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. Abishai was the son of Zeruiah. 13Abishai stationed some soldiers in Edom. The whole nation of Edom was brought under his rule. The Lord helped David win his battles wherever he went.
David’s Officials
14David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.
15Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was commander over the army.
Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records.
16Zadok, the son of Ahitub, was a priest. Ahimelek, the son of Abiathar, was also a priest.
Shavsha was the secretary.
17Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was commander over the Kerethites and Pelethites.
And King David’s sons were the chief officials who served at his side.
