1 A fter this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.

After this David won the battle against the Philistines. And he took the most important city from the Philistines.

2 H e struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. The Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.

He won the battle against Moab, and had them lie down on the ground in straight groups. Two groups were put to death, and one group was kept alive. The Moabites became servants to David and paid taxes to him.

3 D avid struck also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.

Then David won the battle against Hadadezer the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as he went to get his power again at the Euphrates River.

4 D avid took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.

David took 1, 700 horsemen and 20, 000 foot soldiers from him. He cut the legs of some of the war-wagon horses, but saved enough of them for 100 war-wagons.

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

When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22, 000 of them.

6 T hen David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.

Then he put groups of soldiers in Damascus of Syria. The Syrians became servants to David and were made to pay taxes to him. The Lord helped David every place he went.

7 D avid took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

David took the coverings of gold which were carried by Hadadezer’s army, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 F rom Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took a great quantity of brass.

And he took a very large amount of brass from Hadadezer’s cities, Betah and Berothai.

9 W hen Toi king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer,

Now Toi king of Hamath heard that David had won the battle against the whole army of Hadadezer.

10 t hen Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. Joram brought with him vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

So Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and pray that good would come to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and had won. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him objects of silver, gold and brass.

11 K ing David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;

David set these apart to the Lord, together with the silver and gold he had set apart from all the nations he had taken in battle.

12 o f Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

He had taken silver and gold from Syria, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the things taken from Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 D avid earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt.

So David’s name was very respected when he returned from killing 18, 000 Syrians in the Valley of Salt.

14 H e put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.

And he put groups of soldiers in Edom. In all Edom he put soldiers, and all the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord helped David every place he went.

15 D avid reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people.

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

16 J oab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder,

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

17 Z adok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, Seraiah was scribe,

Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were religious leaders. Seraiah was the writer.

18 B enaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, David’s sons were chief ministers.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada ruled the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David’s sons were the king’s helpers.