David Wins Many Battles^(A)

8 Later, David ·defeated [^Lstruck] the Philistines, ·conquered [subdued] them, and took ·the city of Metheg Ammah [or a city of importance; ^Cperhaps a reference to Gath (1 Chr. 18:1)].

² He also ·defeated [^Lstruck] the people of Moab. He made them lie on the ground, and then he used a rope to measure them. ·Those who were measured within two rope lengths were killed, but those who were within the next rope length were allowed to live [He put to death two measured groups for every one measured group he allowed to live]. So the people of Moab became ·servants [subjects] of David and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute].

³ David also ·defeated [^Lstruck] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to ·take control again at [extend his power/rule/^Lhand over; or restore his monument at] the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured ·one thousand chariots, seven thousand men who rode in chariots [or 1,700 charioteers], and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He ·crippled [hamstrung] all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ ·Arameans [Syrians] from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David ·killed [^Lstruck] twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ Then David put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers in Damascus in Aram. The ·Arameans [Syrians] became David’s ·servants [subjects] and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid/brought him tribute]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

⁷ David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s ·officers [^Lservants] and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai, which had been cities under Hadadezer’s control.

⁹ Toi king of Hamath heard that David had ·defeated [^Lstruck] all the army of Hadadezer. ¹⁰ So Toi sent his son Joram to greet and ·congratulate [bless] King David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.) Joram brought ·items [objects; articles] made of silver, gold, and bronze. ¹¹ King David ·gave [dedicated; consecrated] them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations he had ·defeated [subdued; subjugated]. ¹² These nations were ·Edom [^LAram; ^Cthe Hebrew has Aram (Syria), but the context suggests Edom], Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. David also gave the Lord ·what he had taken from [the spoil/plunder of] Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ David ·was famous [^Lmade a name for himself] after he returned from ·defeating [or killing; ^Lstriking] eighteen thousand ·Arameans [or Edomites; 1 Chr. 18:12; Ps. 60 title] in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ He put ·groups [garrisons] of soldiers all over Edom, and all the Edomites became his ·servants [subjects]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

¹⁵ David ·was king [reigned] over all Israel, and he did what was ·fair [just] and ·right [equitable] for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the ·recorder [royal historian]. ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests. Seraiah was the royal secretary. ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites [^Cforeign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards]. And David’s sons were ·priests [or important officials; ^C“priests” is the more likely reading, but uncertain because only Levites were supposed to be priests].

David Defeats Nations^(A)

18 Later, David defeated the Philistines, ·conquered [subdued] them, and took the city of Gath and the surrounding towns from the Philistines.

² He also defeated the people of Moab. So the people of Moab became ·servants [subjects] of David and ·gave him the payment he demanded [paid tribute money].

³ David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah all the way to the town of Hamath as he ·tried to spread his kingdom to [extended his authority/rule to; or set up his boundary marker at; ^Lextended his hand; ^Cthe Hebrew word can mean control or, less often, monument] the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured one thousand of his chariots, seven thousand ·charioteers [horsemen], and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He ·crippled [hamstrung] all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

⁵ Arameans from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David killed twenty-two thousand of them. ⁶ Then David put ·groups of soldiers [garrisons] in Damascus in Aram. The Arameans became David’s ·servants [subjects] and ·gave him the payments he demanded [brought him tribute]. So the Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

⁷ David took the shields of gold that had belonged to Hadadezer’s ·officers [guards; servants] and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Cun, which had been cities under Hadadezer’s control. Later, Solomon used this bronze to make things for the ·Temple [^Lhouse]: the large bronze bowl, which was called the Sea [1 Kin. 7:23–26], the pillars [1 Kin. 7:15–22], and other bronze utensils.

⁹ ·Toi [Tou] king of Hamath heard that David had ·defeated all the [destroyed the entire] army of Hadadezer king of Zobah. ¹⁰ So Toi sent his son ·Hadoram [Joram, 2 Sam. 8:10] to greet and congratulate King David for defeating Hadadezer. (Hadadezer had been at war with Toi.) Hadoram brought items made of gold, silver, and bronze. ¹¹ King David ·gave [dedicated] them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from these nations: ·Edom [Aram, 2 Sam. 8:12, 14], Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt [^Cthis victory is attributed to David in 2 Sam. 8:13]. ¹³ David put ·groups of soldiers [garrsions] in Edom, and all the Edomites became his ·servants [subjects]. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went.

David’s Important Officers

¹⁴ David ·was king [reigned] over all of Israel, and he did what was ·fair [just] and ·right [righteous] for all his people. ¹⁵ Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the ·recorder [secretary; royal historian]. ¹⁶ Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests. ·Shavsha [or Seriah; 2 Sam. 8:17] was the royal ·secretary [scribe]. ¹⁷ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites [^Cforeign mercenaries who served as the king’s bodyguards]. And David’s sons were ·important officers who served [chief officials/assistants] at his side.