2 Samuel 8
8
David Wins Many Wars
1Later David defeated the Philistines and took control of a large area of land around Gath.#8:1 area of land around Gath Or “villages controlled by the mother city” or “Metheg-Ammah.” See 1 Chron. 18:1. 2He also defeated the Moabites. He forced them to lie on the ground in a long row. Using a rope to measure, those within two lengths of the rope were killed and those within every third length were allowed to live. So the Moabites became servants of David and paid tribute to him.
3David went to an area near the Euphrates to set up a monument for himself.#8:3 David went … for himself Or “David went to take control of the area near the Euphrates River.” At that time he defeated the king of Zobah, Hadadezer son of Rehob. 4David took 1000 chariots, 7000 horse soldiers,#8:4 David … soldiers This is found in the ancient Greek version and a Hebrew scroll from Qumran. The standard Hebrew text has “1700 horse soldiers.” and 20,000 foot soldiers from Hadadezer. He crippled all but 100 of the chariot horses.#8:4 He crippled … horses Or “He destroyed all but 100 chariots.”
5Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David defeated those 22,000 Arameans. 6Then David put his soldiers in Damascus, Aram. The Arameans became David’s servants and brought tribute. The Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields#8:7 shields Or “bow cases.” that had belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8David also took many things made of bronze from Tebah#8:8 Tebah This is found in some ancient Greek copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Betah.” See 1 Chron. 18:8. and Berothai. (Tebah and Berothai were cities that had belonged to Hadadezer.)
9King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s whole army. 10Hadadezer had fought against Toi in the past, so Toi sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted him and blessed him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Joram brought gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. 11David took these things and dedicated them to the Lord, as he had done with all the other things he had taken from the nations he had defeated: 12Aram, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek. He had also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13David had defeated 18,000 Edomites#8:13 Edomites This is found in the ancient Greek and Syriac versions and a few Hebrew copies. The standard Hebrew text has “Arameans.” in Salt Valley. He was famous when he came home. 14He put teams of soldiers throughout Edom, and the whole nation became his servants. The Lord gave victory to him wherever he went.
David’s Rule
15David ruled over all Israel, and he made good and fair decisions for all of his people. 16Joab son of Zeruiah was the captain over the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the historian. 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests. Seraiah was secretary. 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites,#8:18 Kerethites and Pelethites These were David’s special bodyguards. An ancient Aramaic version has “the archers and stone throwers.” This would mean these men were specially trained in using bows and arrows and slings. and David’s sons were priests.#8:18 priests Or “important leaders.”
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2 Samuel 8: ERV
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
2 Samuel 8
8
David Wins Many Battles
1While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Metheg Ammah away from them.
2David also won the battle over the people of Moab. He made them lie down on the ground. Then he measured them off with a piece of rope. He put two-thirds of them to death. He let the other third remain alive. So the Moabites were brought under David’s rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him.
3David fought against Hadadezer, the son of Rehob. Hadadezer was king of Zobah. He had gone to repair his monument at the Euphrates River. 4David captured 1,000 of Hadadezer’s chariots, 7,000 chariot riders and 20,000 soldiers on foot. He cut the legs of all but 100 of the chariot horses.
5The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them. 6He stationed some soldiers in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The people of Aram were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him. The Lord helped David win his battles everywhere he went.
7David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer. He brought the shields to Jerusalem. 8He took a huge amount of bronze from Tebah and Berothai. Those towns belonged to Hadadezer.
9Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had won the battle over the entire army of Hadadezer. 10So Tou sent his son Joram to King David. Joram greeted David. He praised David because he had won the battle over Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. So Joram brought with him gifts made out of silver, of gold and of bronze.
11King David set those gifts apart for the Lord. He had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from the other nations. Those were nations he had brought under his control. 12Those nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek. He also set apart for the Lord what he had taken from Hadadezer, the son of Rehob. Hadadezer was king of Zobah.
13David returned after he had struck down 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. He became famous for doing it.
14He stationed some soldiers all through Edom. The whole nation of Edom was brought under David’s rule. The Lord helped him win his battles everywhere he went.
David’s Officials
15David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. 16Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records. 17Zadok, the son of Ahitub, was a priest. Ahimelek, the son of Abiathar, was also a priest. Seraiah was the secretary. 18Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was commander over the Kerethites and Pelethites. And David’s sons were priests.
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