1 After this, David struck down the Philistines and subdued them. He took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also struck down Moab and measured them with a cord after making them lie on the ground. He measured two cord lengths for putting to death and one full cord length for keeping alive. The Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute. 3 David also struck down Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his dominion at the Euphrates River. 4 David captured from him seventeen hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all the chariot horses but kept enough for a hundred chariots. 5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of the Arameans. 6 David placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. 7 David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very great amount of bronze.

9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him for fighting Hadadezer and defeating him, for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought objects of silver, gold and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these to the LORD as well, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued: 12 from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek and the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Arameans in the Valley of Salt. 14 He placed garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom he placed garrisons, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. 15 David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.