2 Samuel 8:1-15
Holman Christian Standard Bible
David’s Victories
8 After this, David defeated the Philistines,(A) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah[a] from Philistine control.[b](B) 2 He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.(C)
3 David also defeated Hadadezer(D) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,700 horsemen[c] and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses(E) and kept 100 chariots.[d]
5 When the Arameans of Damascus(F) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. 6 Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.(G)
7 David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.(H) 8 King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah[e] and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.
9 When King Toi of Hamath(I) heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued(J)— 12 from Edom,[f] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites[g] in the Valley of Salt.[h](K) 14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.(L) The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
15 So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 8:1 Or took control of the mother city; Hb obscure
- 2 Samuel 8:1 LXX reads them, and David took tribute out of the hand of the Philistines
- 2 Samuel 8:4 LXX, DSS read 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen
- 2 Samuel 8:4 Or chariot horses
- 2 Samuel 8:8 Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah
- 2 Samuel 8:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Aram; 1Ch 18:11
- 2 Samuel 8:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Arameans; 1Ch 18:12
- 2 Samuel 8:13 = the Dead Sea region
2 Samuel 8:1-15
New Living Translation
David’s Military Victories
8 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.[a] 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.
3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers,[b] and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.
5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah[c] and Berothai.
9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— 12 from Edom,[d] Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites[e] in the Valley of Salt. 14 He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
15 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 8:1 Hebrew by conquering Metheg-ammah, a name that means “the bridle,” possibly referring to the size of the town or the tribute money taken from it. Compare 1 Chr 18:1.
- 8:4 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version (see also 1 Chr 18:4); Masoretic Text reads captured 1,700 charioteers.
- 8:8 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 18:8); Hebrew reads Betah.
- 8:12 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also 8:14; 1 Chr 18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts read Aram.
- 8:13 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also 8:14; 1 Chr 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts read Arameans.
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