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After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. David also struck Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River. David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty two thousand men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. From Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took a great quantity of bronze. When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer, 10 then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; 12 of Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 David earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom, he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. 15 David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.

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David’s Victories

After this, David defeated the Philistines,(A) subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah[a] from Philistine control.[b](B) 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)

David also defeated Hadadezer(D) son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 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]

When the Arameans of Damascus(F) came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. 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)

David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.(H) King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah[e] and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

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.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:1 Or took control of the mother city; Hb obscure
  2. 2 Samuel 8:1 LXX reads them, and David took tribute out of the hand of the Philistines
  3. 2 Samuel 8:4 LXX, DSS read 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen
  4. 2 Samuel 8:4 Or chariot horses
  5. 2 Samuel 8:8 Some LXX mss, Syr read Tebah
  6. 2 Samuel 8:12 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Aram; 1Ch 18:11
  7. 2 Samuel 8:13 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Arameans; 1Ch 18:12
  8. 2 Samuel 8:13 = the Dead Sea region