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
Common English Bible
David’s wars
8 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David captured Metheg-ammah from Philistine control.
2 David also defeated the Moabites and made them lie on the ground, measuring them with a rope. He measured two rope lengths for those who were to be killed and one rope length for those who were to be spared. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought him tribute.
3 Next David defeated Zobah’s King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son, as Hadadezer was on his way to put[a] his monument along the Euphrates River.[b] 4 David captured one thousand chariots, seven hundred charioteers,[c] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He cut the hamstrings of all but one hundred of the chariot horses. 5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Zobah’s King Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of them. 6 David set up forts among the Arameans of Damascus. And the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. 7 David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 King David also took a large amount of bronze from Tebah[d] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer.
9 When Hamath’s King Toi heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to wish him well and congratulate him on his battle and defeat of Hadadezer, because Toi was an enemy of Hadadezer. Joram brought silver, gold, and bronze objects with him. 11 King David dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations that he had subdued: 12 Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, including the plunder of Zobah’s King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son.
13 So David made a name for himself.[e] When he returned, he killed eighteen thousand Edomites[f] in the Salt Valley. 14 He set up forts in Edom,[g] and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s administration
15 David ruled over all Israel and maintained justice and righteousness for all his people.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 8:3 Or to restore
- 2 Samuel 8:3 DSS(4QSama), 1 Chron 18:3
- 2 Samuel 8:4 LXX, DSS(4QSama), 1 Chron 18:4; MT seventeen hundred chariots
- 2 Samuel 8:8 Some LXX manuscripts and 1 Chron 18:8; MT Betah
- 2 Samuel 8:13 Or built a monument
- 2 Samuel 8:13 LXX; MT he returned from killing eighteen thousand Arameans
- 2 Samuel 8:14 Cf 1 Chron 18:13; MT repeats in all Edom he set up forts.
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