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David's Kingdom Strengthened

¹ Now after this ^(C1)it came about that David ^(F1)defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.² He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

³ David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his ^(F1)rule to the Euphrates River.⁴ David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.

⁵ When the Arameans of ^(F1)Damascus came to help Hadadezer king ^(C1)of Zobah, David ^(F2)killed 22,000 men of the Arameans.⁶ Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of ^(F1)Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.⁷ David took the shields of gold which were ^(F1)carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.⁸ Also from ^(F1)Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which ^(C1)Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

⁹ Now when ^(F1)Tou king of Hamath heard that David had ^(F2)defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,¹⁰ he sent ^(F1)Hadoram his son to King David to ^(F2)greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had ^(F3)defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.¹¹ King David also dedicated these to the LORD with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

¹² Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah ^(F1)defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.¹³ Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

¹⁴ So David reigned over all Israel; and he ^(F1)administered justice and righteousness for all his people.^15 (C1)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;¹⁶ and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;¹⁷ and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king's side.