The Message Bible MSG
New Living Translation NLT
1 In the days that followed, David struck hard at the Philistines - brought them to their knees and took control of the countryside.
1
After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.
2 He also fought and defeated Moab. He chose two-thirds of them randomly and executed them. The other third he spared. So the Moabites fell under David's rule and were forced to bring tribute.
2
David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two groups to be executed for every one group to be spared. The Moabites who were spared became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money.
3 On his way to restore his sovereignty at the River Euphrates, David next defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob the king of Zobah.
3
David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.
4 He captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand infantry. He hamstrung all the chariot horses, but saved back a hundred.
4
David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.
5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to the aid of Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.
5
When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them.
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.
6
Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
7 David plundered the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
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David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem,
8 He also looted a great quantity of bronze from Tebah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer.
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along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of Tebah and Berothai.
9 Toi, king of Hamath, heard that David had struck down the entire army of Hadadezer.
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When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer,
10 So he sent his son Joram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating them, for Toi and Hadadezer were old enemies. He brought with him gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
10
he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver, gold, and bronze.
11 King David consecrated these along with the silver and gold from all the nations he had conquered
11
King David dedicated all these gifts to the LORD, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated—
12 - from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and from Amalek, along with the plunder from Hadadezer son of Rehob king of Zobah.
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from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 David built a victory monument on his return from defeating the Arameans.
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So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
14 David set up a puppet government in Edom, and the Edomites became subjects under David. God gave David victory wherever he marched.
14
He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. In fact, the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
15 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 did what was just and right for all his people.
16 Joab son of Zeruiah was head of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was clerk;
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Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.
17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;
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Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.
18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; And David's sons were priests.
18
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. And David’s sons served as priestly leaders.
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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.