David wins victories over the Philistines, Moabites, Arameans and Edomites, and dedicates the plunder to the LORD. He establishes his administration and the LORD gives him victory wherever he goes.
1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines , and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines .
2 And he smote Moab , and measured them with a line , casting them down to the ground ; even with two lines measured he to put to death , and with one full line to keep alive . And so the Moabites became David's servants , and brought gifts .
3 David smote also Hadadezer , the son of Rehob , king of Zobah , as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates .
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen , and twenty thousand footmen : and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots .
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah , David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men .
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus : and the Syrians became servants to David , and brought gifts . And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went .
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer , and brought them to Jerusalem .
8 And from Betah , and from Berothai , cities of Hadadezer , king David took exceeding much brass .
9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer ,
10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David , to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer , and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi . And Joram brought with him vessels of silver , and vessels of gold , and vessels of brass :
11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD , with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued ;
12 Of Syria , and of Moab , and of the children of Ammon , and of the Philistines , and of Amalek , and of the spoil of Hadadezer , son of Rehob , king of Zobah .
13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt , being eighteen thousand men.
14 And he put garrisons in Edom ; throughout all Edom put he garrisons , and all they of Edom became David's servants . And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went .
15 And David reigned over all Israel ; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people .
16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host ; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder ;
17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub , and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar , were the priests ; and Seraiah was the scribe ;
18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites ; and David's sons were chief rulers .