2 Samuel 8

1 And it came to pass after this, that David smote the Philistines, and humbled them: and David took Metheg-haammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

Sometime after this, David attacked and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah from the them.

2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, laying them down on the ground; and he measured with two lines to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became David's servants, bringing presents.

David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground, and he measured them with a length of cord. He measured two lengths for those to be killed, and one cord length for those to be allowed to live. So he made them subject to him and required them to pay taxes.

3 David smote also Hadad'ezer, the son of Rechob, the king of Zobah, as he went to extend his territory at the river Euphrates.

David also defeated Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he tried to enforce his control along the Euphrates River.

4 And David captured from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand men on foot: and David hamstringed all the chariot-teams, but reserved of them a hundred chariot-teams.

David captured from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses—except he saved enough for 100 chariots.

5 And the Syrians of Damascus then came to aid Hadad'ezer, the king of Zobah, when David slew of the Syrians twenty and two thousand men.

When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.

6 And David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, bearing presents. And the Lord helped David whithersoever he went.

He placed garrisons in Aramean kingdom with its capital in Damascus, and made the Arameans subject to him and required them to pay taxes. The Lord gave David victories wherever he went.

7 And David took the shields of gold that belonged to the servants of Hadad'ezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

David took the shields of gold that belonged to Hadadezer's officers and brought them to Jerusalem.

8 And from Betach, and from Berothai, cities of Hadad'ezer, did king David take exceedingly much copper.

King David also took a large quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, towns that had belonged to Hadadezer.

9 And when To'i the king of Chamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadad'ezer,

When Tou, king of Hamath, learned that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah,

10 Then did To'i send Yoram his son unto king David, to ask him after his well-being, and to bless him, because that he had fought against Hadad'ezer, and smitten him; for Hadad'ezer had been engaged in wars with To'i; and he had in his hand vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of copper:

he sent his son Joram to David to make friends with him and to congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer. Tou and Hadadezer had often been at war. Joram brought all kinds of gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.

11 These also did king David sanctify unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had sanctified from all the nations which he subdued;

King David dedicated these gifts to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from all the nations he had subdued:

12 From Syria, and from Moab, and from the children of 'Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from 'Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadad'ezer, the son of Rechob, the king of Zobah.

Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalekites; as well as the plunder taken from Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13 And David acquired a name when he returned from his smiting the Syrians in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand men.

David also made a name for himself when he came back after defeating eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David whithersoever he went.

He placed garrisons all through Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victories wherever he went.

15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David did what is just and right unto all his people.

David ruled over all Israel. He did what was fair and right for all his people.

16 And Joab the son of Zeruyah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Achilud was recorder;

Joab, son of Zeruiah, was the army commander, and Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, kept the official records.

17 And Zadok the son of Achitub, and Achimelech the son of Ebyathar, were priests; and Serayah was scribe;

Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar, were priests, while Seraiah was the secretary.

18 And Banayahu the son of Yehoyada' was over both the Kerethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were officers of state.

Benaiah, son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.