David’s Further Conquests

18 After this ait came to pass that David 1attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then he 2defeated bMoab, and the Moabites became David’s cservants, and brought tribute.

3 And dDavid 3defeated 4Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. 4 David took from him one thousand chariots, 5seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David 6hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5 When the eSyrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from 7Tibhath and from 8Chun, cities of 9Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of fbronze, with which gSolomon made the bronze 1Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

9 Now when 2Tou king of Hamath heard that David had 3defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent 4Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and 5defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of harticles of gold, silver, and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations—from Edom, from Moab, from the ipeople of Ammon, from the jPhilistines, and from kAmalek.

12 Moreover lAbishai the son of Zeruiah killed meighteen thousand 6Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 nHe also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and 7Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; 8Shavsha was the scribe; 17 oBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were 9chief ministers at the king’s side.