Second Book of Samuel 8

¹ After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. From the hands of the Philistines he took. . .

² He also defeated the Moabites, and making them lie down on the ground measured them off by the line; he measured out two lines to be put to death and one full line to have their lives spared. The Moabites became subject to David, paying him tribute.

³ David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, on his way to extend his power over the river.[*a]

⁴ David captured one thousand seven hundred charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him; David hamstrung all the chariot teams, keeping only a hundred of them.

⁵ The Aramaeans of Damascus came to the help of Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Aramaeans.

⁶ Then David imposed governors on Aram of Damascus, and the Aramaeans became subject to David, paying him tribute. Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory.

⁷ David took the golden shields carried by the guards of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

⁸ From Betah and Berothai, towns belonging to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

⁹ When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army,

¹⁰ he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadadezer, since Hadadezer was the enemy of Tou. Hadoram brought with him articles of silver, gold and bronze,

¹¹ which King David also consecrated to Yahweh as he had already consecrated the silver and gold taken from all the nations he had subjugated:

¹² Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek; from the spoil, too, of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ Thus David won fame for himself. On his return he defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt,[*b] eighteen thousand of them.

¹⁴ He imposed governors on Edom and all the Edomites became subject to David. Wherever David went, Yahweh gave him victory.

¹⁵ David ruled over all Israel, administering law and justice to all his people.

¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Abiathar son of Ahimelech were priests; Seraiah was secretary;

¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and Pelethites;[*c] David’s sons were priests.