2 Samuel 8

8 ¹ After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg-ammah from the Philistines. ² He also defeated Moab. He made them lie on the ground and measured them with a cord: two lengths to die, one full length to live. So Moab became David's servants and brought tribute.

³ David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and hamstrung all the chariot horses, keeping enough for a hundred chariots. ⁵ When Aram of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Arameans. ⁶ David set garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants, bringing tribute. Our Father gave David victory wherever he went. ⁷ David took the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ he sent his son Joram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought items of silver, gold, and bronze. ¹¹ King David dedicated these also to our Father with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he subdued ¹² —from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ David made a name for himself returning from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ He put garrisons throughout Edom—in all Edom he placed garrisons—and all the Edomites became servants to David. Our Father gave David victory wherever he went.

David's Officers

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah commanded the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the court recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the court secretary; ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada commanded the Kerethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests. ^a a v18 David's sons were not Levitical priests; here the word marks them as the king's chief officials and personal ministers serving at his side.