David Strikes Down Nations

1Now it happened afterwards, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2He also struck Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

3Then David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to set up his [†]power at the Euphrates River. 4And David captured from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for 100 chariots.

5Then the Arameans of [†]Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah. And David struck down 22,000 men of the Arameans. 6Then David placed garrisons among the Arameans of [†]Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went. 7And David took the small shields of gold which were [†]carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8Also from [†]Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

9Then [†]Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck down all the military force of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10so he sent [†]Hadoram his son to King David to [†]greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11King David also set these apart as holy to Yahweh with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah [†]smote 18,000 of Edom in the Valley of Salt. 13Then he placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went.

14So David reigned over all Israel; and he was doing justice and righteousness for all his people. 15Now Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was scribe; 17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.