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After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. David also struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty two thousand men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took a great quantity of bronze. When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; 12 of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 David earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. 15 David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people. 16 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe, 18 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.

David’s Military Victories(A)

Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.

David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony[a] over the Euphrates[b] River. David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700[c] horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply[d] 100 chariots. When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,[e] and they paid tribute to him. David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. He[f] also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.

When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11 and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12 including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.

13 David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14 He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Leaders(B)

15 David reigned over all of Israel, administering[g] justice and equity to every one of his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,[h] 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah[i] was his personal secretary,[j] 18 Jehoida’s son Benaiah supervised the special forces[k] and mercenaries,[l] and David’s sons were priests.[m]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit. hand
  2. 2 Samuel 8:3 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  3. 2 Samuel 8:4 So MT; LXX reads 7,000; cf. 1Chr 18:4
  4. 2 Samuel 8:4 The Heb. lacks enough to supply
  5. 2 Samuel 8:6 Lit. David
  6. 2 Samuel 8:8 Lit. David
  7. 2 Samuel 8:15 Lit. with David administering
  8. 2 Samuel 8:16 Or recorder; an officer who kept official records of David’s administration
  9. 2 Samuel 8:17 Cf. 1Chr 18:16, which reads Shavsha
  10. 2 Samuel 8:17 Or scribe
  11. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. Cherethites; i.e. elite body guards
  12. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. Pelethites; i.e. special couriers
  13. 2 Samuel 8:18 Cf. 1Chr 18:17, which describes them as special officials