The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 In the days that followed, David struck hard at the Philistines, bringing them to their knees, captured Gath, and took control of the surrounding countryside.
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Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 He also fought and defeated Moab. The Moabites came under David's rule and paid regular tribute.
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And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
3 On his way to restore his sovereignty at the Euphrates River, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah (over toward Hamath).
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And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
4 David captured a thousand chariots, 7,000 cavalry, and 20,000 infantry from him. He hamstrung all the chariot horses, but saved back a hundred.
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And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.
5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to the aid of Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them.
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And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6 David set up a puppet government in Aram-Damascus. The Arameans became subjects of David and were forced to bring tribute. God gave victory to David wherever he marched.
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Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 David plundered the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
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And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 He also looted Tebah and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, of a huge quantity of bronze that Solomon later used to make the Great Bronze Sea, the Pillars, and bronze equipment in The Temple.
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Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
9 Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck down the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah.
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Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
10 He sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. Tou and Hadadezer were old enemies. Hadoram brought David various things made of silver, gold, and bronze.
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He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
11 King David consecrated these things along with the silver and gold that he had plundered from other nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
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Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Abishai son of Zeruiah fought and defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt - 18,000 of them.
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Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
13 He set up a puppet government in Edom and the Edomites became subjects under David. God gave David victory wherever he marched.
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And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
14 Thus David ruled over all of Israel. He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships.
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So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
15 Joab son of Zeruiah was head of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of public records;
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And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
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And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the special forces, the Kerethites and Pelethites; And David's sons held high positions, close to the king.
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And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.