David’s Triumphs
(1 Chronicles 18:1–13; Psalm 60:1–12)

1And it came to pass after this that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah† from the hand of the Philistines.

2And he defeated Moab, and he measured them off with a line, forcing them down to the ground. And he measured off with two lines those to be put to death, and the fullness of the line those to be kept alive. And the Moabites became servants of David, lifting up tribute.

3And David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob king of Zobah as he went to recover his hand at the River.† 4And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen,† and twenty thousand men on foot. And David hamstrung every chariot horse, and he spared of them a hundred chariots.

5And the Arameans of Damascus came to give help to Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David struck Aram—twenty-two thousand men. 6And David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and Aram became servants of David and brought tribute. And YHWH preserved David everywhere he went.

7And David took the shields of gold that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Betah† and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

9And Toi† king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer. 10And Toi sent Joram† his son to King David to ask him of welfare and to bless him, upon that he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. For Hadadezer had been a man of wars with Toi, and with him he brought articles of silver, and articles of gold, and articles of bronze. 11Also these King David dedicated to YHWH, along with the silver and the gold that he had dedicated from all the nations that he had subdued— 12from Edom,† and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek, and from the plunder of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13And David made himself a name when he returned from his striking Edom† in the Valley of Salt—eighteen thousand. 14And he put garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all Edom became servants of David. And YHWH preserved David everywhere he went.

David’s Officers
(1 Chronicles 18:14–17)

15And David reigned over all Israel, and David was doing judgment and justice to all his people.

16And Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army;

and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

17and Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests;

and Seraiah† was the scribe;

18and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

and the sons of David were priestly leaders.†

Footnotes:

1 Metheg-ammah means bridle of the mother city.
3 That is, along the Euphrates
4 LXX (see also DSS and 1 Chronicles 18:4); MT captured from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen
8 Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts Tebah; see 1 Chronicles 18:8.
9 Toi is a variant of Tou; also in verse 10; see 1 Chronicles 18:9.
10 Joram is a variant of Hadoram; see 1 Chronicles 18:10.
12 Some Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts Aram
13 A few Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, and Syriac (see also verse 14 and 1 Chronicles 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts Aram
17 Seraiah is also called Sheva, Shisha, and Shavsha; see 2 Samuel 20:25, 1 Kings 4:3, and 1 Chronicles 18:16.
18 Literally priests, or possibly chief officials; see LXX, Targum Yonaton, and 1 Chronicles 18:17.