2 Samuel 8

1After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2He also defeated Moab. He made the Moabites lie down on the ground and measured them off with a cord: every two cord lengths he measured were to be put to death, and every full cord length was to be kept alive. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought him tribute.

3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River.

4David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but he kept enough of them for a hundred chariots.

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

6Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought him tribute. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went.

7David took the gold shields carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8From Betah and from Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.

9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

10Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze.

11King David dedicated these also to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued:

12from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt.

14He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went.

15So David reigned over all Israel, and David did what was just and right for all his people.

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

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

18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.