1In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.2David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.3Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at[1] the River Euphrates.4David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers[2] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. (1Ch 18:4)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 tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.7David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.8From Tebah[3] and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. (1Ch 18:8)9When Tou[4] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,10he sent his son Joram[5] to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.11King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:12Edom[6] and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. (1Ch 18:11)13And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites[7] in the Valley of Salt. (1Ch 18:12)14He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
David’s officials
15David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.[8] (1Ch 18:17)
1While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Metheg Ammah away from them.2David also won the battle over the people of Moab. He made them lie down on the ground. Then he measured them off with a piece of rope. He put two-thirds of them to death. He let the other third remain alive. So the Moabites were brought under David’s rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him.3David fought against Hadadezer, the son of Rehob. Hadadezer was king of Zobah. He had gone to repair his monument at the River Euphrates.4David captured 1,000 of Hadadezer’s chariots, 7,000 chariot riders and 20,000 soldiers on foot. He cut the legs of all but 100 of the chariot horses.5The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them.6He stationed some soldiers in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The people of Aram were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him. The LORD helped David win his battles everywhere he went.7David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer. He brought the shields to Jerusalem.8He took a huge amount of bronze from Tebah and Berothai. Those towns belonged to Hadadezer.9Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had won the battle over the entire army of Hadadezer.10So Tou sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted David. He praised David because he had won the battle over Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. So Joram brought with him gifts made out of silver, of gold and of bronze.11King David set those gifts apart for the LORD. He had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations. Those were nations he had brought under his control.12Those nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek. He also set apart for the LORD what he had taken from Hadadezer, the son of Rehob. Hadadezer was king of Zobah.13David returned after he had struck down 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He became famous for doing it.14He stationed some soldiers all through Edom. The whole nation of Edom was brought under David’s rule. The LORD helped him win his battles everywhere he went.
David’s officials
15David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.16Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records.17Zadok, the son of Ahitub, was a priest. Ahimelek, the son of Abiathar, was also a priest. Seraiah was the secretary.18Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was commander over the Kerethites and Pelethites. And David’s sons were priests.