2 Samuel 8

Modern English Version

David’s Victories^(A)

8 Afterward, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

² He also defeated Moab. He measured them with a length of rope, forcing them to lie down on the ground. He measured two lengths of rope to be put to death, but the entirety of one length he allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David, bearing tribute.

³ David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his authority over the River Euphrates. ⁴ David seized from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all of the chariot horses, save those for one hundred chariots.

⁵ The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David defeated twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans. ⁶ David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants who bore tribute to David. The Lord helped David wherever he went.

⁷ David took the shields of gold that were issued to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Betah^[a] and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took great quantities of bronze.

⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and bless him on account of his fighting with Hadadezer and his defeat of him, for Hadadezer was an opponent of Toi. Joram brought with him implements of silver, gold, and bronze, ¹¹ which King David dedicated to the Lord along with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all of the nations that he had subdued, ¹² that is, from Aram,^[b] Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and the plunder from Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ So David made a name for himself upon his return from defeating eighteen thousand Arameans^[c] in the Valley of Salt.

¹⁴ He set up garrisons in Edom. Throughout all of Edom, he set up garrisons, and all of Edom became subject to David. The Lord helped David wherever he went.

David’s Officials^(B)

¹⁵ David reigned over all of Israel, and he administered fair judgments to all of his people. ¹⁶ Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was secretary. ¹⁷ Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelek the son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was scribe. ¹⁸ Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites. The sons of David were chief ministers.