2 Samuel 8 - International Standard Version (ISV)

David’s Military Victories(A)

8 Sometime later, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, taking Metheg-ammah away from the Philistines. 2 David also conquered Moab, then measured them with a cord, making them lie down on the ground. He executed everyone measured out in each two lengths’ measurement of the cord, but spared the ones measured out by every third length. Then the Moabites were placed under servitude to David, and made to pay tribute.

3 David also attacked King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah, when he was attempting to restore his hegemony[a] over the Euphrates[b] River. 4 David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 1,700[c] horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses except for enough to supply[d] 100 chariots. 5 When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David erected garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, placing the Arameans under servitude to him,[e] and they paid tribute to him. 7 David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officers and took them to Jerusalem. 8 He[f] also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Betah and Berothai, cities under Hadadezer’s control.

9 When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 Tou sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory over Hadadezer, because he had been at war with Tou. Joram brought articles of silver, gold, and bronze with him, 11 and King David dedicated them to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that had been dedicated from all the nations that he had conquered, 12 including from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and spoil from King Hadadezer, Rehob’s son from Zobah.

13 David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 14 He erected garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Leaders(B)

15 David reigned over all of Israel, administering[g] justice and equity to every one of his people. 16 Zeruiah’s son Joab served in charge of the army, Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was his personal archivist,[h] 17 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech were priests, Seraiah[i] was his personal secretary,[j] 18 Jehoida’s son Benaiah supervised the special forces[k] and mercenaries,[l] and David’s sons were priests.[m]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:3 Lit. hand
  2. 2 Samuel 8:3 The Heb. lacks Euphrates
  3. 2 Samuel 8:4 So MT; LXX reads 7,000; cf. 1Chr 18:4
  4. 2 Samuel 8:4 The Heb. lacks enough to supply
  5. 2 Samuel 8:6 Lit. David
  6. 2 Samuel 8:8 Lit. David
  7. 2 Samuel 8:15 Lit. with David administering
  8. 2 Samuel 8:16 Or recorder; an officer who kept official records of David’s administration
  9. 2 Samuel 8:17 Cf. 1Chr 18:16, which reads Shavsha
  10. 2 Samuel 8:17 Or scribe
  11. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. Cherethites; i.e. elite body guards
  12. 2 Samuel 8:18 Lit. Pelethites; i.e. special couriers
  13. 2 Samuel 8:18 Cf. 1Chr 18:17, which describes them as special officials

Cross references

  1. 2 Samuel 8:1 : 1 Chronicles 18:1-13
  2. 2 Samuel 8:15 : 1 Chronicles 18:14-17

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 And it cometh to pass afterwards that David smiteth the Philistines, and humbleth them, and David taketh the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smiteth Moab, and measureth them with a line, causing them to lie down on the earth, and he measureth two lines to put ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 And it was done after these things, David smote the Philistines, and made low them; and David took away the bridle of tribute from the hand of Philistines. (And it was done after these things, that David struck the Philistines, and made them low, or conquered them; and David took away Methegammah ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 He struck Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to kee...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 Sometime later, David won a great victory over the Philistines, gaining superiority over them at Metheg-ammah. 2 He also defeated the army of Moab; and making the captured lie down, he determined that ⅔ of them would be put to death while ⅓ would be allowed to live. As a result, the Moabites beca...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David’s Kingdom Expands8 Now afterward David attacked the Philistines and subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah[a] from the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also defeated Moab. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them with a cord. Every two measures of them were put to death, and the third ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David’s Wars8 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Meth′eg-am′mah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spa...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David’s Wars8 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Meth′eg-am′mah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground; two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spa...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David’s Wars8 Some time afterwards, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David’s Wars8 Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.2 He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David’s Military Victories8 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town.[a] 2 David also conquered the land of Moab. He made the people lie down on the ground in a row, and he measured them off in groups with a length of rope. He measured off two gro...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Wins Other Battles8 After this David won the battle against the Philistines. And he took the most important city from the Philistines. 2 He won the battle against Moab, and had them lie down on the ground in straight groups. Two groups were put to death, and one group was kept alive. The Moab...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David’s Further Conquests(A)8 After this it came to pass that David [a]attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took [b]Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then (B)he defeated Moab. Forcing them down to the ground, he measured them off with a line. With two lines he measured...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David’s victories8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New International Version (NIV)

David’s Victories(A)8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines(B) and subdued(C) them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites.(D) He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Wins Many Battles8 While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Metheg Ammah away from them. 2 David also won the battle over the people of Moab. He made them lie down on the ground. Then he measured them off with a piece ...
Read More

2 Samuel 8 - New English Translation (NET)

David Subjugates Nearby Nations8 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah[a] from the Philistines.[b] 2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other th...
Read More