1In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.3Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at[1] the River Euphrates.4David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.6He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.7David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.8From Tebah[2] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.11King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.12Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.13He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s officials
14David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[3] son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; (2Sa 8:17)17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
1After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. (2Sa 8:1)2And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.3David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument[1] at the river Euphrates. (2Sa 8:3; 1Ki 8:65)4And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. (2Sa 8:4)5And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. (1Ch 19:6)6Then David put garrisons[2] in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David[3] wherever he went.7And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.8And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze. (2Sa 8:8; 1Ki 7:15; 1Ki 7:23; 2Ch 4:12; 2Ch 4:15)9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, (2Sa 8:9; 1Ch 18:5)10he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. (2Sa 8:10; 1Ch 18:3)11These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. (2Sa 8:12)12And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. (1Sa 26:6; 2Sa 8:13)13Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David’s Administration
14So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.15And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; (1Ch 11:6)16and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was secretary; (2Sa 8:17; 2Sa 20:25; 1Ki 4:3; 1Ch 24:3; 1Ch 24:6)17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief officials in the service of the king. (2Sa 8:18)