1And over the course of time, David defeated, subdued, and captured Gath and its surrounding towns from the Philistines. 2He also defeated and subserviated the Moabites, who then paid him tribute. 3David also defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, and extended his dominion as far as Hamath (a little NE of Damascus), and went on to establish it to the Euphrates River. 4And David captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen from Hadadezer; and hamstrung all but a hundred the chariot horses that he kept. 5And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand Syrians. 6Then David stationed garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became subservient to him, and paid him tribute. Thus, the LORD gave David victory wherever he went. 7And David took the shields of gold that the officers of Hadadezer carried, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8And from Tibhath, and Cun (Chun), towns that had belonged to Hadadezer, David brought a large quantity of bronze, from which Solomon later would make the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.

9Now when Tou, king of Hamath, heard how David had defeated the army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah; 10He sent his son, Hadoram, to King David, to greet and to congratulate him, for his defeat of Hadadezer; for Hadadezer had been an enemy of Tou, and he brought many gifts of gold, silver and bronze. 11David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he brought from these other nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, Philistines, and from Amalek. 12Abishai, son of Zeruiah, also destroyed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became subject to David. And again, the LORD prospered David wherever he went. 14So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice for all his people.

15And Joab, son of Zeruiah, was commander of the army; and Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was recorder (historian). 16And Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; 17And Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was head of the Cherethites and the Pelethites (David’s bodyguards); and the sons of David were chief officials for the king.