- Later, David attacked and defeated the Philistines. He captured their town of Gath and the nearby villages.
- David also defeated the Moabites, and so they had to accept him as their ruler and pay taxes to him.
- While King Hadadezer of Zobah was trying to gain control of the territory near the Euphrates River, David met him in battle at Hamath and defeated him.
- David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand chariot drivers, and twenty thousand soldiers. And he crippled all but one hundred of the horses.
- When troops from the Syrian kingdom of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of them.
- Then David stationed some of his troops in Damascus, and the people there had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him. Everywhere David went, the LORD helped him win battles.
- Hadadezer's officers had carried gold shields, but David took these shields and brought them back to Jerusalem.
- He also took a lot of bronze from the cities of Tibhath and Cun, which had belonged to Hadadezer. Later, Solomon used this bronze to make the large bowl called the Sea, and to make the pillars and other furnishings for the temple.
- King Tou of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Tou heard that David had defeated Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Hadoram to congratulate David on his victory. Hadoram also brought him gifts made of gold, silver, and bronze.
- (SEE 18:9)
- David gave these gifts to the LORD, just as he had done with the silver and gold he had captured from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.
- Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated the Edomite army in Salt Valley and killed eighteen thousand of their troops.
- Then he stationed troops in Edom, and the people there had to accept David as their ruler. Everywhere David went, the LORD gave him victory in war.
- David ruled all Israel with fairness and justice.
- Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.
- Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests. Shavsha was the secretary.
- Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of David's bodyguard. David's sons were his highest-ranking officials.
David's military victories not only brought peace to Israel but added to her riches from the plunder taken from those nations David defeated. These victories also made at least one friend for David among the neighboring nations, for King Tou of Hamath was pleased that David had rid him of his enemy, Hadadezer. To show his appreciation, he also added to David's coffers with gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.
Given the historical perspective of the Biblical books of history such as 1 & 2 Chronicles and 1 & 2 Samuel, it is clear that God blesses those who are obedient and faithful to Him. When we seek Him and faithfully carry out His purposes for us, He enables us to do what He directs for us and blesses us in the process. To this point Israel had not yet fully seen God's plan for her completed because she had not been faithful to follow His leading. But under the leadership of a godly king Israel prospered. When the kings following David and Solomon began to drift away from the Lord, Israel's prosperity declined along with it. Unless we reflect on God's great works through scripture we do not have the advantage of this perspective and are shortsighted and spiritually ignorant, leading to false assumptions and destructive pursuits.
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