| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control. | 1After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and then took possession of Gath and its towns from Philistine control. |
| 2He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David's subjects and brought tribute. | 2He also conquered Moab, placing them in servitude and making them pay tribute. |
| 3David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River. | 3David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, which is near Hamath, while he was going about establishing his hegemony as far as the Euphrates River. |
| 4David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept 100 chariots. | 4David confiscated 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and hamstrung all of the chariot horses except for a reserve force of 100 chariots. |
| 5When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. | 5When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. |
| 6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The LORD made David victorious wherever he went. | 6David later erected garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans were placed under servitude to David, to whom they paid tribute. |
| 7David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem. | 7David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer's officials and took them to Jerusalem. |
| 8From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer's cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze reservoir, the pillars, and the bronze articles. | 8David also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, cities under Hadadezer's control. Later on, Solomon crafted the bronze sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels for the Temple. |
| 9When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, | 9When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered King Hadadezer of Zobah's entire army, |
| 10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items. | 10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to meet and congratulate him, because he had fought against and defeated Hadadezer. Since Hadadezer had often been to war against Tou, he sent all sorts of gold, silver, and bronze goods |
| 11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations--from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites. | 11to King David, which David also dedicated to the LORD, along with silver and gold that he confiscated from all the surrounding nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. |
| 12Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. | 12Zeruiah's son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. |
| 13He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The LORD made David victorious wherever he went. | 13He erected garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. |
| 14So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. | 14So David reigned over all of Israel, administering justice and equity to all of his people. |
| 15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian; | 15Zeruiah's son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist, |
| 16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was court secretary; | 16Ahitub's son Zadok and Abiathar's son Ahimelech were priests, Shavsha was his personal secretary, |
| 17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials at the king's side. | 17Jehoiada's son Benaiah supervised the special forces and mercenaries, while David's sons worked as chief officials in service to the king. |
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