1 Chronicles 18

1 After this it happened, that David struck the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

Some time later, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he captured Gath and its nearby towns from the Philistines.

2 He struck Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.

David also defeated the Moabites, making them subject to him and requiring them to pay taxes.

3 David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Perath.

David then defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, near Hamath, as he tried enforce his control along the Euphrates River.

4 David took from him one thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for one hundred chariots.

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 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Arameans twenty-two thousand men.

When the Arameans from Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them.

6 Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

David placed forces in the Aramean town of Damascus, and also made them 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 were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

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

8 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.

David also took a large quantity of bronze from Tibhath and from Cun, towns that had belonged to Hadadezer. Solomon used that bronze to make the bronze sea, the columns, and the various bronze objects.

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

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

10 he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him; (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou; ) and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.

he sent his son Hadoram 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. Hadoram brought gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.

11 The King also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he took from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the people of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

King David dedicated these gifts to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from all the following nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalekites.

12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

Abishai, son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.

He set up army posts in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victories wherever he went.

14 David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness to all his people.

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

15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

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

16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Shisha was scribe;

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

17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were at the king's side, serving as his chief officials.