David’s Triumphs

8 Now it came about after this that David defeated the Philistines and subdued (humbled) them, and he took control of Metheg-ammah [the main city] from the hand of the Philistines.

² He defeated ^[a]Moab, and ^[b]measured them with a length of rope, making them lie down on the ground; he measured two lengths to [choose those to] put to death, and one full length to [choose those to] be kept alive. And the [surviving] Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

³ Then David defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ^[c]Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the River [Euphrates]. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses (making them lame), but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots. ⁵ When the Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Arameans. ⁶ Then David put garrisons among the Arameans in Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants and brought tribute. The Lord helped David wherever he went. ⁷ David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took an immense quantity of bronze.

⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard about David’s defeat of all the forces of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent ^[d]Joram his son to King David to ^[e]greet and congratulate him for his battle and defeat of Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze [as gifts]. ¹¹ King David also dedicated these [gifts] to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he subdued: ¹² from Aram (Syria), Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 ^[f]Arameans (Syrians) 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 him wherever he went.

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel, and continued to administer justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was [commander] over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder (secretary); ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the [chief] priests, and Seraiah was the scribe; ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was [head] over both the Cherethites and Pelethites [the king’s bodyguards]; and David’s sons were ^[g]chief [confidential] advisers (officials) [to the king].^(A)