David’s Victories
1After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hands of the Philistines. 2He also defeated Moab, and he measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground: he measured off two lengths of cord for those to be put to death, and one full length for those to be spared. The Moabites became David’s subjects, paying tribute. 3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4David captured from him a thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but kept enough for a hundred chariots. 5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. 6David placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects, paying tribute. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went. 7David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. 8From Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. 9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him for fighting against Hadadezer and defeating him — for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze, 11and King David dedicated these also to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued — 12from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt. 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went. 15David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.
