David’s Victories

1After this, David defeated the Philistines,a subdued them, and took Metheg-ammahA from Philistine control.B b 2He 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 full length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute.a

3David also defeated Hadadezera son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4David captured seventeen hundred horsemenA and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horsesa and kept a hundred chariots.B

5When the Arameans of Damascusa came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. 6Then 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.a

7David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.a 8King David also took huge quantities of bronze from BetahA and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

9When King Toi of Hamatha heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he 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. 11King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdueda —  12from Edom,A Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13David made a reputationa for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand EdomitesA in Salt Valley.B b 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.a The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.b

15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people.a

1. 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;
2. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
3. 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
4. Seraiah was court secretary;
5. 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;a
6. and David’s sons were chief officials.A