2 Samuel 8-9

New American Standard Bible 1995

David’s Triumphs

8 ^(A)Now after this it came about that David ^[a]defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and David took ^[b]control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.

^2 (B)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 one full line to keep alive. And ^(D)the Moabites became servants to David, ^(E)bringing tribute.

³ Then David ^[d]defeated ^(F)Hadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as ^(G)he went to restore his ^[e]rule at the ^[f]River. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David ^(H)hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots. ⁵ When ^(I)the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David ^[g]killed 22,000 Arameans. ⁶ 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. ⁷ David took the shields of gold which were ^[h]carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From ^[i]Betah and from ^(L)Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

⁹ Now when Toi king of ^(M)Hamath heard that David had ^[j]defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent ^[k]Joram his son to King David to ^[l]greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and ^[m]defeated him; for Hadadezer ^[n]had been at war with Toi. And ^[o]Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. ¹¹ King David also ^(N)dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued: ¹² from ^[p]Aram and ^(O)Moab and ^(P)the sons of Ammon and ^(Q)the Philistines and ^(R)Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ So ^(S)David made a name for himself when he returned from ^[q]killing 18,000 ^[r]Arameans in ^(T)the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ He 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 over the army, and ^(X)Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was ^(Y)recorder. ^17 (Z)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were ^(AA)priests, and Seraiah was ^(AB)secretary. ^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.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9 Then David said, “Is there yet ^[v]anyone left of the house of Saul, ^(AF)that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you ^(AG)Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” ³ The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the ^(AH)kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “^(AI)There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” ⁴ So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is ^(AJ)in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. ^6 (AK)Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and ^(AL)fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” ⁷ David said to him, “Do not fear, for ^(AM)I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and ^(AN)will restore to you all the ^[w]land of your ^[x]grandfather Saul; and ^(AO)you shall ^[y]eat at my table regularly.” ⁸ Again he prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard ^(AP)a dead dog like me?”

⁹ Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “^(AQ)All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s ^[z]grandson. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless ^(AR)Mephibosheth your master’s grandson ^(AS)shall ^[aa]eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According ^(AT)to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at ^[ab]David’s table as one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ^(AU)he ate at the king’s table regularly. Now ^(AV)he was lame in both feet.