| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. | 1After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town. |
| 2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute. | 2David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. |
| 3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. | 3David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River. |
| 4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots. | 4David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots. |
| 5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. | 5When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them. |
| 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. | 6Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. |
| 7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. | 7David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, |
| 8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. | 8along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Berothai. |
| 9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, | 9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, |
| 10he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, | 10he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. |
| 11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— | 11King David dedicated all these gifts to the LORD, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated— |
| 12from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. | 12from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. |
| 13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. | 13So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. |
| 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. | 14He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. |
| 15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: | 15So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. |
| 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; | 16Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. |
| 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe; | 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary. |
| 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders. | 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders. |
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