| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1After this, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from Philistine control. | 1Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. |
| 2He also defeated the Moabites, and after making them lie down on the ground, he measured them off with a cord. He measured every two cord lengths of those to be put to death and one length of those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute. | 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 defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. | 3David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob's son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony over the Euphrates River. |
| 4David captured 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and he hamstrung all the horses and kept 100 chariots. | 4David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply 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 erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him, and they paid tribute to him. |
| 7David took the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem. | 7David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer's officers and took them to Jerusalem. |
| 8King David also took huge quantities of bronze from Betah and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities. | 8He also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer's control. |
| 9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, | 9When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, |
| 10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Toi and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Joram had items of silver, gold, and bronze with him. | 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, |
| 11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued-- | 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, |
| 12from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Amalekites, and the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. | 12including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob's son from Zobah. |
| 13David made a reputation for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. | 13David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. |
| 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The LORD made David victorious wherever he went. | 14He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. |
| 15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. | 15David reigned over all of Israel, administering justice and equity to every one of his people. |
| 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian; | 16Zeruiah's son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist, |
| 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was court secretary; | 17Ahitub's son Zadok and Abiathar's son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah was his personal secretary, |
| 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief officials. | 18Jehoida's son Benaiah supervised the special forces and mercenaries, and David's sons were priests. |
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