Study Desk

After this,^(a) David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control.

He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David's subjects and brought tribute.

David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River.

David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept 100 chariots.^[a]

When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah,^(b) David struck down 22,000 Aramean men.

Then he placed garrisons^[b](c) in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

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

From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer's cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze reservoir, the pillars, and the bronze articles.^(d)

When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,

he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items.

King David also dedicated these to the Lord , along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations—from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.

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

He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

So David reigned over all Israel,^(e) administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

Joab^(f) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech^[c](g) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was court secretary;

Benaiah son of Jehoiada^(h) was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials at the king's side.

Some time later,^(a) King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.

Then David said, "I'll show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. However, when David's emissaries arrived in the land of the Ammonites to console him,

the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, "Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he's showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn't David sent his emissaries in order to scout out, overthrow, and spy on the land?"

So Hanun took David's emissaries, shaved them, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away.^(b)

It was reported to David about his men, so he sent messengers to meet them, since the men were deeply humiliated. The king said, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back; then return."

When the Ammonites realized^(c) they had made themselves repulsive to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 38 tons^[a] of silver to hire chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah.^(d)

They hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped near Medeba.^(e) The Ammonites also came together from their cities for the battle.

David heard about this and sent Joab and the entire army of warriors.

The Ammonites marched out and lined up in battle formation at the entrance of the city while the kings who had come were in the field by themselves.

When Joab saw that there was a battle line in front of him and another behind him, he chose some men out of all the elite troops^[b](f) of Israel and lined up in battle formation to engage the Arameans.

He placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, and they lined up in battle formation to engage the Ammonites.

"If the Arameans are too strong for me," Joab said, "then you'll be my help. However, if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I'll help you.

Be strong! We must prove ourselves strong for our people and for the cities of our God.^(g) May the Lord 's will be done."^[c]

Joab and the people with him approached the Arameans for battle, and they fled before him.

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they likewise fled before Joab's brother Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab went to Jerusalem.

When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to summon the Arameans who were across the Euphrates. They were led by Shophach, the commander of Hadadezer's army.

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan. He came up to the Arameans and lined up in battle formation against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him.

But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed 7,000 of their charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach, commander of the army.

When Hadadezer's subjects saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. After this, the Arameans were never willing to help the Ammonites again.