Chapter 18

David’s Kingdom Strengthened

1 Now after this ait came about that David 1defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his 1rule to the Euphrates River.

4 David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.

5 When the Arameans of 1Damascus came to help Hadadezer king aof Zobah, David 2killed 22,000 men of the Arameans.

6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of 1Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

7 David took the shields of gold which were 1carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 Also from 1Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which aSolomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

9 Now when 1Tou king of Hamath heard that David had 2defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

10 he sent 1Hadoram his son to King David to 2greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had 3defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah 1defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he 1administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

15 aJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;

17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.