aNow it came about after this that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took control of Metheg-ammah the main city from the hand of the Philistines.1 Chr 18
2 aHe defeated 1bMoab, and 2measured them with a length of rope, making them lie down on the ground; he measured two lengths to choose those to put to death, and one full length to choose those to be kept alive. And cthe surviving Moabites became servants to David, dbringing tribute.I.e. descendants of Lot (Gen 19:37).In ancient times a conqueror sometimes used an arbitrary system to determine which prisoners to execute.Num 24:171 Sam 22:3, 42 Sam 8:6; 1 Kin 4:212 Kin 3:4; 17:3
3 Then David defeated aHadadezer the son of Rehob, king of 1Zobah, as bhe went to restore his power at the River Euphrates.I.e. an Aramean (Syrian) kingdom.1 Sam 14:47; 2 Sam 10:16, 192 Sam 10:15-19 4 David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. David also ahamstrung all the chariot horses , but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.Josh 11:6, 9 5 When athe Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Arameans.1 Kin 11:23-25 6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans in Damascus, and athe Arameans became his servants and brought tribute. bThe LORD helped David wherever he went.2 Sam 8:22 Sam 3:18 7 David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 And from Betah and aBerothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took an immense quantity of bronze.Ezek 47:16
9 When Toi king of aHamath heard about David’s defeat of all the forces of Hadadezer,1 Kin 8:65; 2 Chr 8:4 10 Toi sent 1Joram his son to King David to 2greet and congratulate him for his battle and defeat of Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze as gifts.In 1 Chr 18:10, Hadoram.Lit ask him about his shalom and bless. 11 King David also adedicated these gifts to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all the nations which he subdued:1 Kin 7:51 12 from Aram , aMoab, bthe Ammonites, cthe Philistines, and dAmalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.2 Sam 8:22 Sam 10:142 Sam 5:17-251 Sam 27:8; 30:17-20
13 aSo David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 1Arameans in bthe Valley of Salt.A few manuscripts read Edomites (the form of the Hebrew letters makes the two names nearly identical).2 Sam 7:92 Kin 14:7 14 He put garrisons in Edom; in all Edom he put garrisons, and aall the Edomites became servants to David. And bthe LORD helped him wherever he went.Gen 27:37-40; Num 24:17, 182 Sam 8:6
15 So David reigned over all Israel, and continued to administer justice and righteousness for all his people. 16 aJoab the son of Zeruiah was commander over the army; bJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was crecorder ;1 Chr 11:61 Kin 4:32 Kin 18:18, 37 17 aZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the chief bpriests, and Seraiah was the cscribe;1 Chr 6:4-81 Chr 16:39, 402 Kin 18:18 18 aBenaiah the son of Jehoiada was head over both the bCherethites and Pelethites the king’s bodyguards; and David’s sons were 1cchief confidential advisers to the king. 1+@Chr 18:17Lit priests. Even though the Hebrew word for priests is used in this verse, David’s sons would not serve as priests because they were from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The ancient rabbis interpreted the statement to mean that the sons enjoyed some priestly privileges.1 Kin 4:41 Sam 30:14; 2 Sam 15:18; 20:7, 23; 1 Kin 1:38, 441 Chr 18:17