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David Wins Many Battles(A)

Later, David ·defeated [L struck] the Philistines, ·conquered [subdued] them, and took ·the city of Metheg Ammah [or a city of importance; C perhaps a reference to Gath (1 Chr. 18:1)].

He also ·defeated [L struck] the people of Moab. He made them lie on the ground, and then he used a rope to measure them. ·Those who were measured within two rope lengths were killed, but those who were within the next rope length were allowed to live [He put to death two measured groups for every one measured group he allowed to live]. So the people of Moab became ·servants [subjects] of David and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute].

David also ·defeated [L struck] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to ·take control again at [extend his power/rule/L hand over; or restore his monument at] the Euphrates River. David captured ·one thousand chariots, seven thousand men who rode in chariots [or 1,700 charioteers], and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He ·crippled [hamstrung] all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

·Arameans [Syrians] from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David ·killed [L struck] twenty-two thousand of them. Then David put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers in Damascus in Aram. The ·Arameans [Syrians] became David’s ·servants [subjects] and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s ·officers [L servants] and brought them to Jerusalem. David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai, which had been cities under Hadadezer’s control.

Toi king of Hamath heard that David had ·defeated [L struck] all the army of Hadadezer. 10 So Toi sent his son Joram to greet and ·congratulate [bless] King David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.) Joram brought ·items [objects; articles] made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David ·gave [dedicated; consecrated] them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations he had ·defeated [subdued; subjugated]. 12 These nations were ·Edom [L Aram; C the Hebrew has Aram (Syria), but the context suggests Edom], Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. David also gave the Lord ·what he had taken from [the spoil/plunder of] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 David ·was famous [L made a name for himself] after he returned from ·defeating [or killing; L striking] eighteen thousand ·Arameans [or Edomites; 1 Chr. 18:12; Ps. 60 title] in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers all over Edom, and all the Edomites became his ·servants [subjects]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

15 David ·was king [reigned] over all Israel, and he did what was ·fair [just] and ·right [equitable] for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the ·recorder [royal historian]. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites [C foreign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards]. And David’s sons were ·priests [or important officials; C “priests” is the more likely reading, but uncertain because only Levites were supposed to be priests].

David’s Triumphs

(A)Now it happened afterward that David [a]defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took [b]control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

(B)And He [c]defeated (C)Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and a full line to keep alive. And (D)the Moabites became servants to David, (E)bringing tribute.

Then David [d]defeated (F)Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as (G)he went to restore his [e]power at the Euphrates River. And David captured from him [f]1,700 horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers; and David (H)hamstrung almost all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for a hundred chariots. When (I)the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David [g]killed twenty-two thousand men among the Arameans. Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and (J)the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And (K)the Lord helped David wherever he went. David took the shields of gold which were [h]carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. And from [i]Betah and (L)Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

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

13 So (S)David made a name for himself when he returned from [q]killing eighteen thousand [r]Arameans in (T)the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and (U)all the Edomites became servants to David. And (V)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 (W)Joab the son of Zeruiah was commander over the army, and (X)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was (Y)secretary. 17 (Z)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were (AA)priests, and Seraiah was (AB)scribe. 18 (AC)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [t]was over the (AD)Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [u](AE)chief ministers.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:1 Lit struck
  2. 2 Samuel 8:1 Lit the bridle of the mother city
  3. 2 Samuel 8:2 Lit struck
  4. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit struck
  5. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit hand
  6. 2 Samuel 8:4 Here LXX reads as 1 Chr 18:4; partial DSS text appears to also
  7. 2 Samuel 8:5 Lit struck
  8. 2 Samuel 8:7 Lit on
  9. 2 Samuel 8:8 In 1 Chr 18:8, Tibhath
  10. 2 Samuel 8:9 Lit struck
  11. 2 Samuel 8:10 In 1 Chr 18:10, Hadoram
  12. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit ask him of his welfare
  13. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit struck
  14. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit was a man of wars
  15. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit there were in his hand
  16. 2 Samuel 8:12 Some mss Edom
  17. 2 Samuel 8:13 Lit striking
  18. 2 Samuel 8:13 Some mss Edom
  19. 2 Samuel 8:15 Lit was doing
  20. 2 Samuel 8:18 See 1 Chr 18:17; MT and the Cherethites
  21. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit priests