2 Samuel 8–9

David’s Wars

⁸Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

²He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death and one length^o for those who were to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.^*

³David also struck down the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob, as he went to restore his monument at the River Euphrates.^{* 4}David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for a hundred chariots.^{* 5}When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.^{* 6}Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to David and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.^{* 7}David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.^{* 8}From Betah and from Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a great amount of bronze.

⁹When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze;^{* 11}these also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued,^{* 12}from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob.

¹³David won a name for himself. When he returned, he killed eighteen thousand Edomites^p in the Valley of Salt.^{* 14}He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.^*

David’s Officers

¹⁵So David reigned over all Israel, and David administered justice and equity to all his people. ¹⁶Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;^{* 17}Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;^{* 18}Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over^q the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.^*

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

⁹David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”^{* 2}Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!”^{* 3}The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.”^{* 4}The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.”^{* 5}Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. ⁶Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He answered, “I am your servant.”^{* 7}David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.”^{* 8}He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”^*

⁹Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson.^{* 10}You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat, but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.^{* 11}Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s^r table, like one of the king’s sons. ¹²Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants.^{* 13}Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.^*