⁸ The Meunites^[a] paid annual tribute to him, and his fame spread even to Egypt, for he had become very powerful.

¹¹ Some of the Philistines brought him gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

² David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.

³⁸ When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben-ammi.^[a] He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

²⁴ News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.

War with Surrounding Nations

20 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites^[a] declared war on Jehoshaphat.

³¹ He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.

¹³ So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites^[a] in the Valley of Salt.

Saul Defeats the Ammonites

11 About a month later,^[a] King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead. But all the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. “Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants,” they pleaded.