18:1  Now after this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

18:2  He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

18:3  David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his rule to the Euphrates River.

18:4  David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.

18:5  When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 men of the Arameans.

18:6  Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

18:7  David took the shields of gold which the servants of Hadadezer carried and brought them to Jerusalem.

18:8  Also from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

18:9  Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

18:10  he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had defeated him; for Hadadezer gone to war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

18:11  King David also dedicated these to the LORD with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

18:12  Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

18:13  Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.

18:14  So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

18:15  Joab the son of Zeruiah commanded the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud served as recorder;

18:16  and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar served as priests, and Shavsha served as secretary;

18:17  and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada presided over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David served as chiefs at the king's side.