1. While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Gath away from the Philistines. He also captured the villages that were around Gath.
2. David also won the battle over the people of Moab. They were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him.
3. David fought against Hadadezer all the way to Hamath. Hadadezer was king of Zobah. He had gone to take complete control of the land along the Euphrates River.
4. David captured 1,000 of Hadadezer's chariots, 7,000 chariot riders and 20,000 soldiers on foot. He cut the legs of all but 100 of the chariot horses.
5. The Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. But David struck down 22,000 of them.
6. He stationed some soldiers in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus. The people of Aram were brought under his rule. They gave him the gifts he required them to bring him. The Lord helped David win his battles everywhere he went.
7. David took the gold shields that were carried by the officers of Hadadezer. He brought the shields to Jerusalem.
8. He took a huge amount of bronze from Tebah and Cun. Those towns belonged to Hadadezer. Later, Solomon used the bronze to make the huge bronze bowl for washing. He also used it to make the pillars and many other bronze articles for the temple.
9. Tou was king of Hamath. He heard that David had won the battle over the entire army of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah.
10. So Tou sent his son Hadoram to King David. Hadoram greeted David. He praised him because he had won the battle over Hadadezer. Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. So Hadoram brought David all kinds of articles that were made out of gold, silver and bronze.
11. King David set those articles apart for the Lord. He had done the same thing with the silver and gold he had taken from other nations. The nations were Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia and Amalek.
12. Abishai struck down 18,000 men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. Abishai was the son of Zeruiah.
13. He stationed some soldiers in Edom. The whole nation of Edom was brought under his rule. The Lord helped David win his battles everywhere he went.
14. David ruled over the whole nation of Israel. He did what was fair and right for all of his people.
15. Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was commander over the army. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, kept the records.
16. Zadok, the son of Ahitub, was a priest. Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, was also a priest. Shavsha was the secretary.