Chapter 18

David’s Victories. ^1 (A)After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them; and he took Gath and its towns away from the Philistines. ² He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s subjects, paying tribute.

³ David then defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, toward Hamath, who was on his way to set up his victory stele at the river Euphrates. ⁴ David captured from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred for his chariots.^{(B) 5} The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, but David also defeated twenty-two thousand of their men in Aram. ⁶ Then David set up garrisons in the Damascus region of Aram, and the Arameans became David’s subjects, paying tribute. Thus the Lord made David victorious in all his campaigns.

⁷ David took the golden shields that were carried by Hadadezer’s attendants and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David likewise took away from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, large quantities of bronze; Solomon later used it to make the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.^(C)

⁹ When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, ¹⁰ he sent his son Hadoram to wish King David well and to congratulate him on having waged a victorious war against Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. He also brought gold, silver and bronze articles of every sort.^{(D) 11} These also King David consecrated to the Lord along with all the silver and gold that he had taken from the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹² Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, also defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.^{(E) 13} He set up garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. Thus the Lord brought David victory in all his undertakings.

David’s Officials. ^14 (F)David was king over all Israel; he dispensed justice and right to all his people. ¹⁵ Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army; Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was chancellor;^{(G) 16} Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests;^[a] Shavsha was scribe;^{(H) 17} Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief assistants to the king.^[b](I)