[1] After this, David defeated and crushed the Philistines. He took Gath and its surrounding villages from them. [2] He also defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David's subjects and paid taxes to him. [3] When David went to establish his control over the territory along the Euphrates River, he defeated King Hadadezer at Hamath. [4] David took 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him. David also disabled all but 100 of their horses so that they couldn't pull chariots. [5] When the Arameans from Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. [6] David put troops in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became his subjects and paid taxes to him. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories. [7] David took the gold shields that Hadadezer's servants carried, and he brought them to Jerusalem. [8] David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer's cities. ( Later Solomon used it to make the pool, pillars, and utensils for the temple.) [9] When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Zobah's King Hadadezer, [10] he sent his son Hadoram to greet King David and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. (There had often been war between Hadadezer and Tou.) [11] King David dedicated all the articles of gold, silver, and bronze to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations-from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek. [12] Zeruiah's son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region. [13] He put troops in Edom, and all its people became David's subjects. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victories. [14] So David ruled all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people. [15] Zeruiah's son Joab was in charge of the army. Ahilud's son Jehoshaphat was the royal historian. [16] Ahitub's son Zadok and Abiathar's son Abimelech were priests. Shavsha was the royal scribe. [17] Jehoiada's son Benaiah was commander of the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And David's sons were his main officials.
