David’s Victories

1 ^gAfter this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took ^hMetheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 ⁱAnd he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites ^jbecame servants to David and ^kbrought tribute.

3 David also defeated ^lHadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ^mZobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 ⁿAnd David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David ^ohamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 ^pAnd when the ^qSyrians of Damascus came to help ^lHadadezer king of ^mZobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians ^rbecame servants to David and brought tribute. ^sAnd the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took ^tthe shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

9 When Toi king of ^uHamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 ^vThese also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, ^wMoab, ^xthe Ammonites, ^ythe Philistines, ^zAmalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ^mZobah.

13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in ^athe Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, ^band all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Officials

15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 ^cJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and ^dJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and ^eZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and ^fSeraiah was secretary, 18 and ^gBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over¹ the ^hCherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may ⁱshow him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was ^jZiba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show ^kthe kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of ^lJonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of ^mMachir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And ⁿMephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, ⁱfor I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and ^oyou shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for ^pa dead dog such as I?”

9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson ^oshall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had ^qfifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ^oate at David’s² table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, ^rwhose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ^ohe ate always at the king’s table. Now ^lhe was lame in both his feet.

David Defeats His Enemies

1 ^aAfter this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

3 David also defeated ^bHadadezer king of ^cZobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument¹ at the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him 1,000 chariots, ^d7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king ^eof Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons² in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David³ wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from ^fTibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. ^gWith it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.

9 When ^hTou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king ^eof Zobah, 10 he sent his son ⁱHadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against ^bHadadezer and defeated him; for ^bHadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. 11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from ^jEdom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

12 And ^kAbishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people. 15 And ^lJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 ^mand Zadok the son of Ahitub and ⁿAhimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and ^oShavsha was secretary; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the ^pchief officials in the service of the king.

He Will Tread Down Our Foes

To the choirmaster: according to ^fShushan Eduth. A ^gMiktam¹ of David; ^hfor instruction; when he ⁱstrove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt.