2 Samuel 8

1And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.footnote a

2And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

3David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.footnote b

4And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.footnote c

5And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

10Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:footnote dfootnote efootnote ffootnote g

11Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

12Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.footnote h

14And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

15And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

16And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;footnote i

17And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;footnote j

18And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.footnote k

David’s Triumphs

1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammahfootnote a from the hand of the Philistines.

2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.footnote b 4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers,footnote c and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men. 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betahfootnote d and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

9When King Toifootnote e of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joramfootnote f to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, 11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— 12from Edomfootnote g and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomitesfootnote h in the Valley of Salt. 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

David’s Officers

15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;
Seraiahfootnote i was the scribe;

18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;
and David’s sons were priestly leaders.footnote j