2 Samuel 8 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Chapter 8

Summary of David’s Wars. 1 A short time later, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them, and he also wrested Metheg-ammah from their control. 2 In addition he defeated the Moabites, after which he ordered them to lie on the ground and then measured them off with a length of cord. He measured two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those who were to be spared. The Moabites then became David’s subjects and brought him tribute.

3 David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, the son of Rehob, as he led an expedition to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He also hamstrung all but one hundred of the chariot horses.

5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to the aid of King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans. 6 He then established garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus, and they became his subjects and brought him tribute.[a] The Lord brought David victory wherever he went.

7 David also took the gold shields that were carried by the guards of Hadadezer, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 8 In addition, from Bethah and Berothai, towns belonging to Hadadezer, David removed an immense quantity of bronze.

9 When Tor, the king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated Hadadezer’s entire army, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him for having been victorious in his battle against Hadadezer, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tor.

Joram brought with him objects of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 These also King David consecrated to the Lord, as he had also done with the silver and gold he had taken from every nation he had conquered— 12 from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and the Philistines, from Amalek, and from the spoil taken from King Hadadezer of Zoab, the son of Rehob.

13 David became even more greatly renowned when, on his return, he slew eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt, 14 after which he stationed garrisons throughout Edom. Thus all the Edomites became David’s subjects. And the Lord continued to give victory to David wherever he went.

15 David’s Officials. David reigned over all Israel, and he administered law and justice among all his people.[b] 16 Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was in charge of the records. 17 Zadok, the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, were priests. Seraiah was secretary. 18 Bena-iah, the son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites.[c] David’s sons were priests.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 8:6 Tribute: this tax on a conquered people was a way of recognizing and supporting those who were victorious in battle.
  2. 2 Samuel 8:15 King David won the love and admiration of most people because of the fairness and respect that he practiced even when dealing with his enemies. This kind of justice reflects God’s will and way as prescribed in Deut 16:18-20.
  3. 2 Samuel 8:18 Cherethites and the Pelethites: foreign mercenaries who were the king’s bodyguards.

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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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