2 Samuel 8 - 9
David Strikes Down Nations
8aNow it happened afterwards, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took 1control of the chief city from the hand of the Philistines.
2aHe also struck bMoab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death and one full line to keep alive. And cthe Moabites became servants to David, dbringing tribute.
3Then David struck aHadadezer, the son of Rehob king of Zobah, as bhe went to restore his 1power at the 2River. 4And David captured from him 1,700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers; and David ahamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for 100 chariots. 5Then athe Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah. And David struck down 22,000 Arameans. 6Then David placed garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus; and athe Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And bYahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went. 7And David took the small shields of gold which were 1carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8Also from 1Betah and from aBerothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a very large amount of bronze.
9Then Toi king of aHamath heard that David had struck down all the military force of Hadadezer, 10so Toi sent 1Joram his son to King David to 2greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down; for Hadadezer 3had been at war with Toi. And in 4Joram’s hand were articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. 11King David also aset these apart as holy to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he had set apart as holy from all the nations which he had subdued: 12from 1Aram, aMoab, bthe sons of Ammon, cthe Philistines, dAmalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13So aDavid made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 1Arameans in bthe Valley of Salt. 14Then he placed garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he placed garrisons, and aall the Edomites became servants to David. And bYahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went.
15So David reigned over all Israel; and David was doing justice and righteousness for all his people. 16aNow Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and bJehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was crecorder; 17aand Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were bpriests, and Seraiah was cscribe; 18aand Benaiah the son of Jehoiada 1was over the bCherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were 2,cpriests.
David’s Lovingkindness to Mephibosheth
9Then David said, “Is there yet 1anyone left of the house of Saul, athat I may show him lovingkindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you aZiba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3And the king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the alovingkindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “bThere is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.” 4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is ain the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.” 5Then King David sent and took him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. 6aSo Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and bfell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!” 7And David said to him, “Do not fear, for aI will surely show lovingkindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and bwill restore to you all the 1land of your 2grandfather Saul; and cyou shall 3eat at my table continually.” 8So he prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard aa dead dog like me?”
9Then the king called Saul’s young man Ziba and said to him, “aAll that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s 1grandson. 10“And you and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food and eat of it; nevertheless aMephibosheth your master’s grandson bshall 1eat at my table continually.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Then Ziba said to the king, “According ato all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at 1David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ahe ate at the king’s table continually. Now bhe was lame in both feet.