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.

After this David won the war against the Philistines and put them under his power. He took Gath and its towns from the Philistines.

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

He won the war against Moab. And the Moabites were made to work for David, bringing taxes to him.

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

David won the war against King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to bring his power to the Euphrates River.

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.

David took from him 1, 000 war-wagons, 7, 000 horsemen, and 20, 000 foot soldiers. And he cut the legs of all but 100 war-wagon horses.

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

The Syrians of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah. But David killed 22, 000 of the Syrian men.

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.

Then David put soldiers in Syria of Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David, paying taxes. The Lord helped David in every place he went.

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

David took the battle-coverings of gold which were carried by Hadadezer’s servants, 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.

He took a very large amount of brass from Hadadezer’s cities, Tibhath and Cun. This was the brass Solomon used to make the brass pool, the pillars, and the brass pots.

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

King Tou of Hamath heard that David had won the war against all the army of King Hadadezer 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.

So he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and give honor to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and won. For Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of things of gold and silver and brass.

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.

King David set these apart to the Lord, with the silver and gold he had carried away from all the nations. He took things from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

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

Abishai the son of Zeruiah won the war from 18, 000 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

Then he put soldiers in Edom. And the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord helped David every place he went.

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

So David ruled over all Israel. He did what was fair and right and good for all his people.

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

Joab the son of Zeruiah was captain of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wrote down the things of the nation.

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

Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were religious leaders. Shavsha was the one who writes everything down.

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.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And the sons of David were leaders at the king’s side.