2 Samuel 8-10

1Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.

2David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

3David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River.

4David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.

5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of their men.

6Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

7And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

8And from Betah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze.

9When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,

10he sent his son Joram to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze,

11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued—

12from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

14He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

15Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people:

16Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;

17Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was the scribe;

18Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priestly leaders.

1Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

2And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.

3So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

4“Where is he?” replied the king. And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.”

5So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

6And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.

7“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

9Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.

10You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.

12And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

1Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun.

2And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites,

3the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?”

4So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away.

5When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

6When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob.

7On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men.

8The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country.

9When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans.

10And he placed the rest of the troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites.

11“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue.

12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

13So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him.

14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem.

15When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped.

16Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him.

18But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there.

19When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.