David Wins Many Battles
18 While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Gath away from the Philistines. He also captured the villages around Gath.
2 David also won the battle over the people of Moab. They were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him.
3 David fought against Hadadezer in the area of Hamath. Hadadezer was king of Zobah. He had gone to set up his monument at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured 1,000 of Hadadezer’s chariots, 7,000 chariot riders and 20,000 soldiers on foot. He cut the legs of all but 100 of the chariot horses.
5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them. 6 David stationed some soldiers in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The people of Aram were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him. The Lord helped David win his battles wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer. He brought the shields to Jerusalem. 8 He took a huge amount of bronze from Tebah and Kun. Those towns belonged to Hadadezer. Later, Solomon used the bronze to make the huge bronze bowl for washing. He also used it to make the pillars and many other bronze objects for the temple.
9 Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had won the battle over the entire army of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. 10 So Tou sent his son Hadoram to King David. Hadoram greeted David. He praised him because David had won the battle over Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. So Hadoram brought David all kinds of things made out of gold, of silver and of bronze.
11 King David set those things apart for the Lord. He had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations. The nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek.
12 Abishai struck down 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. Abishai was the son of Zeruiah. 13 Abishai stationed some soldiers in Edom. The whole nation of Edom was brought under his rule. The Lord helped David win his battles wherever he went.
David’s Officials
14 David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.
15 Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was commander over the army.
Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records.
16 Zadok, the son of Ahitub, was a priest. Ahimelek, the son of Abiathar, was also a priest.
Shavsha was the secretary.
17 Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was commander over the Kerethites and Pelethites.
And King David’s sons were the chief officials who served at his side.
