The Father Gives David Victory
A summary of David's wars — Philistia, Moab measured by cord, Zobah, Aram, Edom — with the same line said twice: our Father gave David victory wherever he went. The plunder is dedicated, David reigns with justice for all his people, and his officers are named.
8 1After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg-ammah from the Philistines. 2He also defeated Moab. He made them lie on the ground and measured them with a cord: two lengths to die, one full length to live. So Moab became David's servants and brought tribute.
3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his control at the Euphrates River. 4David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and hamstrung all the chariot horses, keeping enough for one hundred chariots. 5When Aram of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 Arameans. 6David set garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became his servants, bringing tribute. Our Father gave David victory wherever he went. 7David took the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.
9When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10he sent his son Joram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought items of silver, gold, and bronze. 11King David dedicated these also to our Father with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he subdued, 12from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13David made a name for himself returning from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14He put garrisons throughout Edom—in all Edom he placed garrisons—and all the Edomites became servants to David. Our Father gave David victory wherever he went.
David's Officers
15So David reigned over all Israel, administering justice and righteousness for all his people. 16Joab son of Zeruiah commanded the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the court recorder; 17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the court secretary; 18Benaiah son of Jehoiada commanded the Kerethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests. a a v18 David's sons were not Levitical priests; here the word marks them as the king's chief officials and personal ministers serving at his side.
