Chronological

David Wins Many Wars

8 Later, David defeated the Philistines. And he took control of their capital city.

² He also defeated the people of Moab. He forced them to lie on the ground. Then he used a rope to measure them. When two men were measured, David ordered them killed. But every third man was allowed to live. So the people of Moab became servants of David. They gave him the payments he demanded.

³ As David went to take control again at the Euphrates River, he defeated Hadadezer. Hadadezer son of Rehob was king of Zobah. ⁴ David took from Hadadezer 1,700 men who rode in his chariots. He also captured 20,000 foot soldiers. David crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses. He saved those horses to pull chariots.

⁵ Arameans from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. But David defeated those 22,000 Arameans. ⁶ Then David put groups of soldiers in Damascus in Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and gave him the payments he demanded. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

⁷ David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s officers. He brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai. (They were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)

⁹ Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer. ¹⁰ So Toi sent his son Joram to greet and congratulate King David. Joram congratulated David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had fought wars against Toi before.) Joram brought things made of silver, gold and bronze. ¹¹ David took these things and gave them to the Lord. He also had given other silver and gold to the Lord. He had taken it from the nations he had defeated. ¹² These nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek. David also defeated the king of Zobah who was Hadadezer son of Rehob.

¹³ David was famous after he returned from the Valley of Salt. There he had defeated 18,000 Arameans. ¹⁴ David put groups of soldiers through all the land of Edom. All the people of Edom became servants for him. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

¹⁵ David was king over all Israel. His decisions were fair and right for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was the royal assistant. ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards. And David’s sons were important leaders.

David Helps Saul’s Family

9 David asked, “Is there anyone still left in Saul’s family? I want to show kindness to this person for Jonathan’s sake!”

² Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s family. So David’s servants called Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

He answered, “Yes, I am Ziba, your servant.”

³ The king asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family? I want to show God’s kindness to this person.”

Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living. He is crippled 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.

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

Mephibosheth said, “I am your servant.”

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 all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will always be able to eat at my table.”

⁸ Mephibosheth bowed to David again. Mephibosheth said, “You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog!”

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. ¹⁰ You, your sons and your servants will farm the land for Mephibosheth. You will harvest the crops. Then your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always be able to eat at my table.”

(Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.) ¹¹ Ziba said to King David, “I am your servant. I will do everything my master, 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 became Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³ Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. He lived in Jerusalem and always ate at the king’s table.

David Defeats Nations

18 Later, David attacked the Philistine people and defeated them. He took Gath and the small towns around it from the Philistines.

² Then David defeated the country of Moab. So the Moabites became David’s servants. And they brought the payments he demanded from them.

³ David also fought against Hadadezer king of Zobah. David fought Hadadezer’s army all the way to the town of Hamath. He did this because Hadadezer tried to spread his kingdom all the way to the Euphrates River. ⁴ David took from Hadadezer 1,000 chariots and 7,000 chariot drivers. And he took 20,000 soldiers on foot. David also crippled most of Hadadezer’s horses used for pulling chariots. He saved only 100 of the chariot horses.

⁵ The Aramean people from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. But David killed 22,000 of them. ⁶ Then David put camps of troops in Damascus in Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought him the payments he demanded. So the Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

⁷ David took the gold shields from Hadadezer’s army leaders. And he brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David also took much bronze from the towns of Tebah and Cun. These towns belonged to Hadadezer. Later, Solomon used this bronze to make things for the Temple: the large bronze bowl, which was called the Sea, the pillars and other bronze things.

⁹ Toi was king of the city of Hamath. He heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer king of Zobah. ¹⁰ So Toi sent his son Hadoram to greet King David. Hadoram also congratulated David for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi before. Hadoram gave David all kinds of things made of gold, silver and bronze. ¹¹ King David gave these things to the Lord. David had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from these nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines and Amalek.

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomite people in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ Abishai also put camps of troops in Edom. And all the Edomites became David’s servants. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

David’s Important Officers

¹⁴ David was king over all of Israel. He did what was right and fair for everyone. ¹⁵ Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of David’s army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. ¹⁶ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Shavsha was the royal assistant. ¹⁷ Benaiah was responsible for leading the Kerethites and Pelethites, the king’s bodyguards. Benaiah was Jehoiada’s son. And David’s sons were important officers. They served at King David’s side.