1 David’s Kingdom Strengthened After this it came about that David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute (gifts).
3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobahas far asHamath, as he went to establish hisLit hand.dominion to the Euphrates River.
4 David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers (infantrymen). David alsoI.e. cut the tendon between the hoof and fetlock.hamstrung [nearly] all the chariot horses [to make them lame and useless], but left enough of them for 100 chariots.
5 When the Arameans (Syrians) ofHeb Darmeseq.Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.
6 Then David putmilitary outpostsamong the Arameans in Damascus; and the Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. Thus the Lhelped David wherever he went.
7 David took the shields of gold which were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 Likewise from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon later made the bronze Sea (large basin), the pillars, and the utensils of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard how David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless (congratulate) him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. AndHadoram broughtall kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.
11 King David also dedicated these to the L[setting them apart for sacred use], with the silver and the gold which he brought from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13 He put military outposts in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the Lhelped David wherever he went.
14 So David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people.
15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was in command of the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;
16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests, and Shavsha was secretary (state scribe);
17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in charge of theThese men were apparently foreign, professional soldiers who were hired to protect the king.Cherethites and the Pelethites [David’s bodyguards], and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.