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1Later, David attacked and badly defeated the Philistines. Israel was now free from their control.[#8.1 Or “David also took the town of Metheg-Ammah away from them.”]
2David also defeated the Moabites. Then he made their soldiers lie down on the ground, and he measured them off with a rope. He would measure off two lengths of the rope and have those men killed, then he would measure off one length and let those men live. The people of Moab had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him.
3David set out for the Euphrates River to build a monument there. On his way, he defeated the king of Zobah, whose name was Hadadezer the son of Rehob.[#8.3 Kings sometimes set up monuments in lands they had conquered.; #8.3 One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. It may have been Hadadezer who was going to the Euphrates River. And he may have gone there either to build a monument or to put down a rebellion.]
4In the battle, David captured 1,700 cavalry and 20,000 foot soldiers. He also captured war chariots, but he destroyed all but 100 of them.[#8.4 Hebrew; one ancient translation and 1 Chronicles 18.4 “1,000 chariots and 7,000 cavalry.”; #8.4 Or “He crippled all but 100 of the horses.”]
5When troops from the Aramean kingdom of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them.
6He left some of his soldiers in Damascus, and the Arameans had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him.
Everywhere David went, the Lord helped him win battles.
7Hadadezer's officers had carried their arrows in gold cases hung over their shoulders, but David took these cases and brought them to Jerusalem.[#8.7 Or “Hadadezer's soldiers carried gold shields, but David took these shields.”]
8He also took a lot of bronze from the cities of Betah and Berothai, which had belonged to Hadadezer.
9-10King Toi of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Toi heard that David had attacked and defeated Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Joram to praise and congratulate David. Joram also brought him gifts made of silver, gold, and bronze.[#8.9,10 Or “killed.”]
11David gave these to the Lord , just as he had done with the silver and gold that he had captured from
12Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, Amalek, and from King Hadadezer of Zobah.[#8.12 Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.11); most Hebrew manuscripts “Aram.” In Hebrew the words for “Edom” and “Aram” look almost alike.]
13David fought the Edomite army in Salt Valley and killed 18,000 of their soldiers. When he returned, he built a monument.[#Ps 60 Title.; #8.13 Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.12); most Hebrew manuscripts “Aramean.” In Hebrew the words for “Edomite” and “Aramean” look almost alike.; #8.13 Or “was famous.”]
14David left soldiers all through Edom, and the people of Edom had to accept him as their ruler.
Wherever David went, the Lord helped him.
15David ruled all Israel with fairness and justice.
16Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army.
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.
17Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, were the priests.[#8.17 One ancient translation and 1 Samuel 22.11-23; Hebrew “Ahimelech the son of Abiathar.”]
Seraiah was the secretary.
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of David's bodyguard.[#8.18 Not in the Hebrew text of this verse, but see 1 Chronicles 18.17.; #8.18 The Hebrew text has “the Cherethites and the Pelethites,” who were foreign soldiers hired by David to be his bodyguard.]
David's sons were priests.