The LORD Gives David Victory

1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines.

2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3As far as Hamath, David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, who had marched out to establish his dominion 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.

5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men.

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 gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8And from Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and various bronze articles.

9When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

10he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze,

11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites.

12Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

14Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Berean Standard Bible