1 A fter this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

2 T hen he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

3 A nd David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates.

4 D avid took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5 W hen the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.

6 T hen David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

7 A nd David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 A lso from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

9 N ow when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

10 h e sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze.

11 K ing David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations—from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 M oreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 H e also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went. David’s Administration

14 S o David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people.

15 J oab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

16 Z adok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha was the scribe;

17 B enaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers at the king’s side.