David’s Victories^(A)

18 In 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.

² David also defeated the Moabites,^(B) and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

³ Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah,^(C) in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at^[a] the Euphrates River.^{(D) 4} David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung^(E) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus^(F) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ He 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.

⁷ David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah^[b] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea,^(G) the pillars and various bronze articles.

⁹ When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he 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.

¹¹ King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom^(H) and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.^(I)

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites^(J) in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials^(K)

¹⁴ David reigned^(L) over all Israel,^(M) doing what was just and right for all his people. ¹⁵ Joab^(N) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁶ Zadok^(O) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek^[c](P) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; ¹⁷ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;^(Q) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(B) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(F) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(G) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(H) and shadow^(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[a](K) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(L) of which he is mediator^(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(N) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[b]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(W) he has made the first one obsolete;^(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Woe to the Complacent

The Lord Abhors the Pride of Israel

⁸ The Sovereign Lord has sworn by himself^(T)—the Lord God Almighty declares:

⁹ If ten^(Z) people are left in one house, they too will die. ¹⁰ And if the relative who comes to carry the bodies out of the house to burn them^[a](AA) asks anyone who might be hiding there, “Is anyone else with you?” and he says, “No,” then he will go on to say, “Hush!^(AB) We must not mention the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 147