2 Samuel 8

Modern

Literal

David’s Triumphs

¹Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^a from the hand of the Philistines.

¹And it came to pass after this that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

²David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

²And he defeated Moab, and he measured them off with a line, forcing them down to the ground. And he measured off with two lines those to be put to death, and the fullness of the line those to be kept alive. And the Moabites became servants of David, lifting up tribute.

³David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.^a

³And David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob king of Zobah as he went to recover his hand at the River.

⁴David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers,^a and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

⁴And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand men on foot. And David hamstrung every chariot horse, and he spared of them a hundred chariots.

⁵When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men.

⁵And the Arameans of Damascus came to give help to Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David struck Aram—twenty-two thousand men.

⁶Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

⁶And David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram became servants of David and brought tribute. And YHWH preserved David everywhere he went.

⁷And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

⁷And David took the shields of gold that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and he brought them to Jerusalem.

⁸And from Betah^a and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

⁸And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

⁹When King Toi^a of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

⁹And Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer.

¹⁰he sent his son Joram^a to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,

¹⁰And Toi sent Joram his son to King David to ask him of welfare and to bless him, upon that he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. For Hadadezer had been a man of wars with Toi, and with him he brought articles of silver, and articles of gold, and articles of bronze.

¹¹and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued—

¹¹Also these King David dedicated to YHWH, along with the silver and the gold that he had dedicated from all the nations that he had subdued—

¹²from Edom^a and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹²from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites^a in the Valley of Salt.

¹³And David made himself a name when he returned from his striking Edom in the Valley of Salt—eighteen thousand.

¹⁴He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

¹⁴And he put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all Edom became servants of David. And YHWH preserved David everywhere he went.

David’s Officers

¹⁵Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

¹⁵And David reigned over all Israel, and David was doing judgment and justice to all his people.

¹⁶Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

¹⁶And Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

¹⁷Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;

Seraiah^a was the scribe;

¹⁷and Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

¹⁸Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites;

and David’s sons were priestly leaders.^a

¹⁸and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were priestly leaders.