1After this, David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. David also took control of their main city from the Philistines.
2He defeated Moab, measuring them with a rope, making them lie down on the ground. He marked two lengths of rope to be executed, and one full length to be spared. So the Moabites became David’s subjects and brought him tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer went to reestablish his control over the area of the Euphrates River.
4David captured 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David crippled all the chariot horses, but kept 100 chariots.
5When the Syrians from Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them.
6Then David placed military outposts in Syrian Damascus. The Syrians became David's servants and paid him tribute. Yahweh gave David victory everywhere he went.
7David took the gold shields from Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem.
8King David also took a large amount of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities belonging to Hadadezer.
9When Toi, the king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army,
10Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and bless him, because David had fought against and defeated Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought gifts of silver, gold, and bronze items.
11King David dedicated these gifts to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold he had taken from all the nations he had conquered;
12this included Syria, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and the plunder from Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David became famous after he returned from defeating eighteen thousand Syrians in the Valley of Salt.
14He placed military outposts throughout Edom. All the Edomites became David’s servants. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went.
15David ruled over all Israel, and he gave fair and just leadership to all his people.
16Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the royal historian.
17Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests. Seraiah was the scribe.
18Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites. David's sons were leading officials.