2 Samuel 8–9

DAVID’S VICTORIES

8After this, David defeated the Philistines,^l subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^C from Philistine control.^{Dm 2}He 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.ⁿ

³David also defeated Hadadezer^o son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ⁴David captured seventeen hundred horsemen^E and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses^p and kept a hundred chariots.^F

⁵When the Arameans of Damascus^q 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.^r

⁷David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.^{s 8}King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah^G and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

⁹When King Toi of Hamath^t 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 subdued^u—¹²from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³David made a reputation^v for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in Salt Valley.^{Ca 14}He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David.^b The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.^c

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

¹⁶Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

¹⁷Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;

Seraiah was court secretary;

¹⁸Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;^e

and David’s sons were chief officials.

DAVID’S KINDNESS TO MEPHIBOSHETH

9David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness^f to for Jonathan’s sake?”^{g 2}There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba.^h They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

³So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?”

Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”ⁱ

⁴The king asked him, “Where is he?”

Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” ⁵So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

⁶Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

⁷“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”^j

⁸Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog^k like me?”

⁹Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s^A table just like one of the king’s sons. ¹²Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica.^l All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.