David's campaigns
1AFTER this David attacked and subdued the Philistines, and took from them Gath with its villages.
2He defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and paid him tribute.
3He also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah-hamath, who was on his way to set up his monument of victory by the river Euphrates.
4From him David captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot-soldiers; he hamstrung all the chariot-horses, except a hundred which he retained.
5When the Aramaeans of Damascus came to the aid of King Hadadezer of Zobah, David destroyed twenty-two thousand of them,
6and stationed garrisons among these Aramaeans; they became subject to him and paid him tribute. Thus the LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields borne by Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem;
8he also removed from Hadadezer's cities Tibhath and Kun a great quantity of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels.
9When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,
10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer in battle, for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou; Hadoram brought with him vessels of gold, silver, and bronze.
11These King David dedicated to the LORD, along with the silver and gold which he had carried away from all the nations, from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines, and from Amalek.
12Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the valley of Salt;
13he stationed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
14David ruled over the whole of Israel and maintained law and justice among all his people.
15Joab son of Zeruiah was in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary of state;
16Zadok and Abiathar son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, were priests; Shavsha was adjutant-general;
17Benaiah son of Jehoiada commanded the Kerethite and Pelethite guards. The eldest sons of David were in attendance on the king.