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2 Samuel 8
GOD’S WORD Translation

David’s Successes(A)

8 After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took control of the main Philistine city from them.[a]

2 He also defeated Moab, made the Moabites lie down on the ground, and measured them with a rope. He measured two lengths which were to be killed, and one length which was to be spared. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟.

3 When David went to restore his control ⌞over the territory⌟ along the Euphrates River, he defeated Zobah’s King Hadadezer, son of Rehob. 4 David took 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn’t pull chariots.

5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes ⌞to him⌟. Everywhere David went, the Lord gave him victories.

7 David took the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s [b] servants, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8 King David also took a large quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army, 10 he sent his son Joram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Toi.) Joram brought articles of gold, silver, and bronze with him. 11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he conquered— 12 from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the goods taken from Zobah’s King Hadadezer, son of Rehob.

13 David made a name for himself by killing 18,000 Edomites [c] in the Dead Sea region as he returned ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. 14 He put troops everywhere in Edom, and all the Edomites were David’s subjects. Everywhere David went, the Lord gave him victories.

15 So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal scribe. 18 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were priests.[d]

Footnotes

  1. 8:1 Or “of Metheg Ammah.”
  2. 8:7 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Chronicles 18:7, Syriac, Targum “Hadadezer’s servants carried.”
  3. 8:13 A few Hebrew manuscripts, 1 Chronicles 18:12, Greek, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts “Arameans.”
  4. 8:18 One Hebrew manuscript, Syriac, Targum, Latin; all other Hebrew manuscripts “Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.”
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2 Samuel 8
New King James Version

David’s Further Conquests(A)

8 After this it came to pass that David [a]attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took [b]Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

2 Then (B)he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s (C)servants, and (D)brought tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of (E)Zobah, as he went to recover (F)his territory at the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, [c]seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David (G)hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5 (H)When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So (I)the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took (J)the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from [d]Betah and from (K)Berothai,[e] cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

9 When [f]Toi king of (L)Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent [g]Joram his son to King David, to [h]greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11 King David also (M)dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— 12 from [i]Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the (N)Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David made himself a (O)name when he returned from killing (P)eighteen thousand [j]Syrians in (Q)the Valley of Salt. 14 He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and (R)all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

David’s Administration(S)

15 So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. 16 (T)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; (U)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 (V)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; [k]Seraiah was the [l]scribe; 18 (W)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the (X)Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [m]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 8:4 seven thousand, 1 Chr. 18:4
  4. 2 Samuel 8:8 Tibhath, 1 Chr. 18:8
  5. 2 Samuel 8:8 Chun, 1 Chr. 18:8
  6. 2 Samuel 8:9 Tou, 1 Chr. 18:9
  7. 2 Samuel 8:10 Hadoram, 1 Chr. 18:10
  8. 2 Samuel 8:10 Lit. ask him of his welfare
  9. 2 Samuel 8:12 LXX, Syr., Heb. mss. Edom
  10. 2 Samuel 8:13 LXX, Syr., Heb. mss. Edomites and 1 Chr. 18:12
  11. 2 Samuel 8:17 Shavsha, 1 Chr. 18:16
  12. 2 Samuel 8:17 secretary
  13. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. priests
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2 Samuel 8
English Standard Version

David's Victories

8 (A)After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took (B)Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 (C)And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites (D)became servants to David and (E)brought tribute.

3 David also defeated (F)Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of (G)Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 (H)And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David (I)hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 (J)And when the (K)Syrians of Damascus came to help (L)Hadadezer king of (M)Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians (N)became servants to David and brought tribute. (O)And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took (P)the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

9 When Toi king of (Q)Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 (R)These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, (S)Moab, (T)the Ammonites, (U)the Philistines, (V)Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of (W)Zobah.

13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in (X)the Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, (Y)and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David's Officials

15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 (Z)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and (AA)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and (AB)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and (AC)Seraiah was secretary, 18 and (AD)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over[a] the (AE)Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David's sons were priests.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:18 Compare 20:23, 1 Chronicles 18:17, Syriac, Targum, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks was over
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