2 Samuel 8
David’s Victories
aAfter this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took bMetheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 aAnd he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites bbecame servants to David and cbrought tribute.
3 David also defeated aHadadezer the son of Rehob, king of bZobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. 4 aAnd David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David bhamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. 5 aAnd when the bSyrians of Damascus came to help cHadadezer king of dZobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. 6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians abecame servants to David and brought tribute. bAnd the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 7 And David took athe shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.
9 When Toi king of aHamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, 10 Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11 aThese also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12 from Edom, aMoab, bthe Ammonites, cthe Philistines, dAmalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of eZobah.
13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in athe Valley of Salt. 14 Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, aand all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.
David’s Officials
15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people. 16 aJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and bJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder, 17 and aZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and bSeraiah was secretary, 18 and aBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the bCherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were priests.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.