2 Samuel 8

David’s Victories

8After this, David defeated the Philistines, ^bsubdued them, and took Metheg-ammah ^cfrom Philistine control. ^de2He 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 length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. ^f

³David also defeated Hadadezer ^gson of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ⁴David captured 1,700 horsemen ^hand 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses ⁱand kept 100 chariots. ^j

⁵When the Arameans of Damascus ^kcame to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 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. ^l

⁷David took the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. ^m8King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah ⁿand Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities.

⁹When King Toi of Hamath ^oheard 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 ^p— ¹²from Edom, ^qMoab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³David made a reputation ^rfor himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites ^sin the Valley of Salt. ^tu14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. ^vThe Lord made David victorious wherever he went.1 ^w

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

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; ^y

and David’s sons were chief officials. ^z