Chronological

8 Sometime later, David won a great victory over the Philistines, gaining superiority over them at Metheg-ammah. ² He also defeated the army of Moab; and making the captured lie down, he determined that ⅔ of them would be put to death while ⅓ would be allowed to live. As a result, the Moabites became servants to David and paid tribute. ³ David also defeated Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah in southern Aram, when Hadadezer went to restore territory all the way to the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 foot soldiers. He retained enough horses to drive 100 chariots and disabled the rest, cutting their leg tendons.

⁵ When the Arameans came from Damascus to fight alongside King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of their soldiers as well. ⁶ Then David set up outposts among the Arameans from Damascus, and they became servants of David and paid tribute. The Eternal helped David everywhere he went. ⁷ David brought the gold shields that had been carried by Hadadezer’s men back to Jerusalem; ⁸ and he plundered a vast quantity of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns, Betah and Berothai.

⁹ When King Toi of Hamath (in southern Aram) heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s army, ¹⁰ he sent his son Joram to greet King David and to congratulate him on his victories because Toi had also defeated Hadadezer. Joram brought as gifts items of silver, gold, and bronze; ¹¹ David dedicated these to the Eternal, as he had all the silver and gold he had received from those nations he defeated: ¹² Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, including the spoil from Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ David’s exploits improved his reputation. After his return, he went to war with the Edomites,^[a] killing 18,000 in the valley of Salt. ¹⁴ David set up outposts throughout the land of Edom. All the Edomites became servants of David, and the Eternal One helped David wherever he went.

¹⁵ So David was king over a united Israel, ruling justly and fairly. ¹⁶ Joab, the son of David’s sister Zeruiah, was his general; Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was his recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok, the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, served as priests; Seraiah was his royal secretary; ¹⁸ Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Cherethites and the Pelethites, foreign mercenaries loyal to David; and some of David’s sons served as advisors in David’s kingdom.

² One servant from Saul’s household, Ziba, was still alive, and they brought him to King David.

^5-6 David sent for Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth and had him brought to Jerusalem from the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. When he arrived, Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul, laid facedown on the floor and honored the king.

⁸ Mephibosheth again prostrated himself before the king.

⁹ Then the king summoned Ziba, who had been Saul’s servant.

Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.

From then on, Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table as though he were one of David’s own sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son, Mica; and all who lived in the house of Ziba became Mephibosheth’s servants and worked for him. ¹³ Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem, where he always ate at the king’s table. He was lame and could not walk on either foot.

18 After God blessed David’s monarchy, King David conquered the Philistines—defeating them and seizing their capital city of Gath and its towns.

² He defeated the Moabites, who were his relatives through his ancestor Ruth, and the Moabites served David and brought him tribute.

³ He defeated Hadadezer (king of Zobah) as far as Hamath in Aram, extending the borders of Israel to the Euphrates River. ⁴ From Hadadezer David seized 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He cut the leg muscles of all the chariot horses, reserving only 100 for future use with the chariots. ⁵ When the armies of Damascus in Aram came to help their kinsman Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 Arameans. ⁶ Then David built garrisons in Damascus, and the Arameans served him and brought him tribute. The Eternal helped David, ensuring his victory, wherever he went. ⁷ David seized the golden shields from the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ He seized large quantities of bronze from Hadadezer’s cities of Tibhath and Cun (which Solomon later used to cast the bronze basin, pillars, and utensils for the temple). ⁹ When Tou (king of Hamath in Aram) heard that David had defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he was overjoyed since he had been fighting with Hadadezer himself. Tou sent his son, Hadoram, to King David to greet him and to bless him with gold, silver, and bronze, for David had fought Hadadezer and had won the victory. ¹¹ King David then dedicated these gifts to the Eternal along with the silver and gold he had seized from these nations: Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.

¹² One of David’s chiefs, Abishai (son of Zeruiah), defeated 18,000 Edomites in the valley of Salt. ¹³ He built garrisons in Edom, and all the people of that nation served David. The Eternal helped David wherever he went.

¹⁴ David was a just and righteous ruler over all Israel—over his people and the lands he conquered. ¹⁵ Joab (son of Zeruiah) led the army; Jehoshaphat (son of Ahilud) was the recorder; ¹⁶ Zadok (son of Ahitub) and Abimelech (son of Abiathar) were priests; Shavsha was secretary; ¹⁷ Benaiah (son of Jehoiada) governed the Cherethites and the Pelethites. David’s own sons were his trusted chiefs giving him advice.