^aNow it came about after this that David defeated the Philistines and subdued (humbled) them, and he took control of Metheg-ammah the main city from the hand of the Philistines.

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.

3 Then David defeated ^aHadadezer the son of Rehob, king of ¹Zobah, as ^bhe went to restore his power at the River Euphrates. 4 David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. David also ^ahamstrung all the chariot horses (making them lame) , but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots. 5 When ^athe Arameans (Syrians) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Arameans. 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. 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.

9 When Toi king of ^aHamath heard about David’s defeat of all the forces of Hadadezer, 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. 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: 12 from Aram (Syria) , ^aMoab, ^bthe Ammonites, ^cthe Philistines, and ^dAmalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 ^aSo David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 ¹Arameans (Syrians) in ^bthe Valley of Salt. 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.

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 (secretary) ; 17 ^aZadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the chief ^bpriests, and Seraiah was the ^cscribe; 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 (officials) to the king. 1+@Chr 18:17