David’s Triumphs

8 Now after this it came about that David ^[a]defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took ^[b]control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

² He ^[c]defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

³ Then David ^[d]defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to restore his ^[e]rule at the ^[f]River. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots. ⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David ^[g]killed 22,000 Arameans. ⁶ Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. ⁷ David took the shields of gold which were ^[h]carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From ^[i]Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

⁹ Now when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had ^[j]defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent ^[k]Joram his son to King David to ^[l]greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and ^[m]defeated him; for Hadadezer ^[n]had been at war with Toi. And ^[o]Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. ¹¹ King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued: ¹² from ^[p]Aram and Moab and the sons of Ammon and the Philistines and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ So David made a name for himself when he returned from ^[q]killing 18,000 ^[r]Arameans in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ He put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel; and David ^[s]administered justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was secretary. ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ^[t]was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were ^[u]chief ministers.