David’s Military Victories

(1 Chronicles 18:1-13)

1Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.

3David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemonya over the Euphratesb River. 4David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700c horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supplyd 100 chariots. 5When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,e and they paid tribute to him. 7David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8Hef also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.

9When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11and King David dedicated them to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.

13David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Leaders

(1 Chronicles 18:14-17)

15David reigned over all of Israel, administeringg justice and equity to every one of his people. 16Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,h 17Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiahi was his personal secretary,j 18Jehoida’s son Benaiah supervised the special forcesk and mercenaries,l and David’s sons were priests.m