| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. | 1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. |
| 2Then he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured off those to be put to death, and with one full line those to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute. | 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. |
| 3David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. | 3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. |
| 4David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. | 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. |
| 5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. | 5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. |
| 6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went. | 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. |
| 7And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. | 7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. |
| 8Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. | 8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. |
| 9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, | 9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, |
| 10then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi); and Joram brought with him articles of silver, articles of gold, and articles of bronze. | 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, |
| 11King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he had subdued— | 11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— |
| 12from Syria, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah. | 12from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. |
| 13And David made himself a name when he returned from killing eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt. | 13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. |
| 14He also put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went. | 14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. |
| 15So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. | 15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: |
| 16Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; | 16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; |
| 17Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; | 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe; |
| 18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers. | 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders. |
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