Chronological
David’s Military Victories(A)
8 Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2 David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.
3 David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony[a] over the Euphrates[b] River. 4 David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700[c] horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply[d] 100 chariots. 5 When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,[e] and they paid tribute to him. 7 David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8 He[f] also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.
9 When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11 and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12 including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.
13 David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14 He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David’s Leaders(B)
15 David reigned over all of Israel, administering[g] justice and equity to every one of his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,[h] 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah[i] was his personal secretary,[j] 18 Jehoida’s son Benaiah supervised the special forces[k] and mercenaries,[l] and David’s sons were priests.[m]
David Shows Kindness to Mephibosheth
9 Later on, David asked, “Is there anyone left alive from Saul’s household to whom I can show gracious love in memory[n] of Jonathan?”
2 A household servant of Saul named Ziba was called to appear before David, and the king asked him, “Are you Ziba?”
“I am your servant,” Ziba replied.
3 At this the king asked, “Isn’t there still someone left from Saul’s household to whom I may show God’s gracious love?”
“There’s Jonathan’s son. He has maimed feet,” Ziba answered.
4 So David asked, “Where is he?”
Ziba responded, “He’s in Lo-debar at the home of Ammiel’s son Makir.”
5 At this, King David sent for him and brought him from the home of Ammiel’s son Makir in Lo-debar. 6 When Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and a grandson of Saul, approached David, he threw himself on his face out of respect.
“Mephibosheth!” David said as he greeted him.
“Hello! I am your servant,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David reassured him, “because I’m going to show gracious love to you in memory[o] of your father Jonathan. I’m going to restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you’ll always have a place[p] at my table!”
8 Mephibosheth[q] bowed low again and asked, “Who am I, your servant, that you would pay attention to a dead dog like me?”
9 At this, the king called for Saul’s servant Ziba and told him, “I’m restoring to your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your servants are to farm the land on his behalf and bring in the crops in order to provide for your master’s grandson. Meanwhile, Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always have a place[r] at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and 20 servants.)
11 Later, Ziba told the king, “Your servant will do everything that your majesty the king commands him.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth fathered a son named Mica, and everyone who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 Mephibosheth continued to live in Jerusalem, always eating at the king’s table, since he was maimed in both feet.
David’s Military Victories(A)
18 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and then took possession of Gath and its towns from Philistine control. 2 He also conquered Moab, placing them in servitude and making them pay tribute.
3 David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, which is near Hamath,[a] while he was going about establishing his hegemony[b] as far as the Euphrates[c] River. 4 David confiscated 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and hamstrung all of the chariot horses except for a reserve force of 100 chariots. 5 When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David later erected garrisons[d] in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans were placed under servitude to David, to whom they paid tribute. 7 David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officials and took them to Jerusalem. 8 David also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Tibhath[e] and Cun, cities under Hadadezer’s control. Later on, Solomon crafted the bronze sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels for the Temple.[f]
9 When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered King Hadadezer of Zobah’s entire army, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to meet and congratulate him, because he had fought against and defeated Hadadezer. Since Hadadezer had often been to war against Tou, he sent all sorts of gold, silver, and bronze goods 11 to King David, which David[g] also dedicated to the Lord, along with silver and gold that he confiscated from all the surrounding[h] nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12 Zeruiah’s son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13 He erected garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David’s Reign(B)
14 So David reigned over all of Israel, administering justice and equity to all of his people. 15 Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,[i] 16 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Shavsha[j] was his personal secretary,[k] 17 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah supervised the special forces[l] and mercenaries,[m] while David’s sons worked as chief officials in service to the king.[n]
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