Dual PanelDavid Wins Many Wars
1Later David defeated the Philistines and took control of a large area of land around Gath.
2He also defeated the Moabites. He forced them to lie on the ground in a long row. Using a rope to measure, those within two lengths of the rope were killed and those within every third length were allowed to live. So the Moabites became servants of David and paid tribute to him.
3David went to an area near the Euphrates to set up a monument for himself. There he defeated the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob.
4David took 1000 chariots, 7000 horse soldiers, and 20,000 foot soldiers from Hadadezer. He crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses.
5Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David defeated those 22,000 Arameans.
6Then David put his soldiers in Damascus, Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields that had belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem.
8David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah and Berothai. (Tebah and Berothai were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)
9King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army.
10Hadadezer had fought against Toi in the past, so Toi sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted him and blessed him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Joram brought gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
11David took these things and dedicated them to the LORD, as he had done with all the other things he had taken from the nations he had defeated:
12Aram, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. He had also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David had defeated 18,000 Edomites in Salt Valley. He was famous when he came home.
14He put teams of soldiers throughout Edom, and the whole nation became his servants. The LORD gave victory to him wherever he went.
David’s Rule
15David ruled over all Israel, and he made good and fair decisions for all of his people.
16Joab son of Zeruiah was the captain over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the historian.
17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was secretary.
18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.