Chronological
David Wins Many Battles(A)
8 Later, David ·defeated [L struck] the Philistines, ·conquered [subdued] them, and took ·the city of Metheg Ammah [or a city of importance; C perhaps a reference to Gath (1 Chr. 18:1)].
2 He also ·defeated [L struck] the people of Moab. He made them lie on the ground, and then he used a rope to measure them. ·Those who were measured within two rope lengths were killed, but those who were within the next rope length were allowed to live [He put to death two measured groups for every one measured group he allowed to live]. So the people of Moab became ·servants [subjects] of David and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute].
3 David also ·defeated [L struck] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to ·take control again at [extend his power/rule/L hand over; or restore his monument at] the Euphrates River. 4 David captured ·one thousand chariots, seven thousand men who rode in chariots [or 1,700 charioteers], and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He ·crippled [hamstrung] all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 ·Arameans [Syrians] from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David ·killed [L struck] twenty-two thousand of them. 6 Then David put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers in Damascus in Aram. The ·Arameans [Syrians] became David’s ·servants [subjects] and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.
7 David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s ·officers [L servants] and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai, which had been cities under Hadadezer’s control.
9 Toi king of Hamath heard that David had ·defeated [L struck] all the army of Hadadezer. 10 So Toi sent his son Joram to greet and ·congratulate [bless] King David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.) Joram brought ·items [objects; articles] made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David ·gave [dedicated; consecrated] them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations he had ·defeated [subdued; subjugated]. 12 These nations were ·Edom [L Aram; C the Hebrew has Aram (Syria), but the context suggests Edom], Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. David also gave the Lord ·what he had taken from [the spoil/plunder of] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 David ·was famous [L made a name for himself] after he returned from ·defeating [or killing; L striking] eighteen thousand ·Arameans [or Edomites; 1 Chr. 18:12; Ps. 60 title] in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers all over Edom, and all the Edomites became his ·servants [subjects]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.
15 David ·was king [reigned] over all Israel, and he did what was ·fair [just] and ·right [equitable] for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the ·recorder [royal historian]. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites [C foreign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards]. And David’s sons were ·priests [or important officials; C “priests” is the more likely reading, but uncertain because only Levites were supposed to be priests].
David Helps Saul’s Family(B)
9 David asked, “Is anyone still left in Saul’s ·family [L house]? I want to show ·kindness [loyalty] to that person for Jonathan’s sake [1 Sam. 20:13–15]!”
2 Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s ·family [L house]. So David’s servants ·called [summoned] Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He answered, “·Yes, I am your servant [At your service].”
3 The king asked, “Is anyone left in Saul’s ·family [L house]? I want to show God’s kindness to that person.”
Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living who is ·crippled [lame] in both feet.”
4 The king asked Ziba, “Where is this son?”
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David had servants bring Jonathan’s son from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. 6 Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, came before David and bowed facedown ·on the floor [and prostrated himself].
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
Mephibosheth said, “·I am your servant [At your service].”
7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid. I will be kind to you for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will ·give you back [restore to you] all the ·land [property] of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table [C the king will provide for his provisions].”
8 Mephibosheth ·bowed [prostrated himself] to David again and said, “·You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog! [L What is your servant, that you should show kindness/favor to a dead dog like me?]”
9 Then King David called Saul’s servant Ziba. David said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his ·family [L house]. 10 You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land and harvest the crops. ·Then your family […so your master’s household] will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat at my table.”
(Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Ziba said to King David, “I, your servant, will do everything my ·master [lord], the king, commands me.”
So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as if he were one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. Everyone in Ziba’s ·family [household] became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table. And he was ·crippled [lame] in both feet.
David Defeats Nations(A)
18 Later, David defeated the Philistines, ·conquered [subdued] them, and took the city of Gath and the surrounding towns from the Philistines.
2 He also defeated the people of Moab. So the people of Moab became ·servants [subjects] of David and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid tribute money].
3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah all the way to the town of Hamath as he ·tried to spread his kingdom to [extended his authority/rule to; or set up his boundary marker at; L extended his hand; C the Hebrew word can mean control or, less often, monument] the Euphrates River. 4 David captured one thousand of his chariots, seven thousand ·charioteers [horsemen], and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He ·crippled [hamstrung] all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5 Arameans from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David killed twenty-two thousand of them. 6 Then David put ·groups of soldiers [garrisons] in Damascus in Aram. The Arameans became David’s ·servants [subjects] and ·gave him the payments he demanded [brought him tribute]. So the Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.
7 David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s ·officers [guards; servants] and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Cun, which had been cities under Hadadezer’s control. Later, Solomon used this bronze to make things for the ·Temple [L house]: the large bronze bowl, which was called the Sea [1 Kin. 7:23–26], the pillars [1 Kin. 7:15–22], and other bronze utensils.
9 ·Toi [Tou] king of Hamath heard that David had ·defeated all the [destroyed the entire] army of Hadadezer king of Zobah. 10 So Toi sent his son ·Hadoram [Joram, 2 Sam. 8:10] to greet and congratulate King David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.) Hadoram brought items made of gold, silver, and bronze. 11 King David ·gave [dedicated] them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from these nations: ·Edom [Aram, 2 Sam. 8:12, 14], Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12 Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt [C this victory is attributed to David in 2 Sam. 8:13]. 13 David put ·groups of soldiers [garrsions] in Edom, and all the Edomites became his ·servants [subjects]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.
David’s Important Officers
14 David ·was king [reigned] over all of Israel, and he did what was ·fair [just] and ·right [righteous] for all his people. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the ·recorder [secretary; royal historian]. 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests. ·Shavsha [or Seriah; 2 Sam. 8:17] was the royal ·secretary [scribe]. 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites [C foreign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards]. And David’s sons were ·important officers who served [chief officials/assistants] at his side.
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