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2 SAM UEL 8
page 279
David’s Prayer of Thanks
18 Then King David went in and sat before the
Lord and prayed,
“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what
is my family, that you have brought me
this far? 19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in
addition to everything else, you speak
of giving your servant a lasting dynasty!
Do you deal with everyone this way,
O Sovereign Lord?*
20 “What more can I say to you? You
know what your servant is really like,
Sovereign Lord. 21 Because of your promise
and according to your will, you have done
all these great things and have made them
known to your servant.
22 “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord!
There is no one like you. We have never
even heard of another God like you! 23 What
other nation on earth is like your people
Israel? What other nation, O God, have
you redeemed from slavery to be your own
people? You made a great name for yourself
when you redeemed your people from Egypt.
You performed awesome miracles and drove
out the nations and gods that stood in their
way.* 24 You made Israel your very own
people forever, and you, O Lord, became
their God.
25 “And now, O Lord God, I am your
servant; do as you have promised
concerning me and my family. Confirm it
as a promise that will last forever. 26 And
may your name be honored forever so that
everyone will say, ‘The Lord of Heaven’s
Armies is God over Israel!’ And may the
house of your servant David continue
before you forever.
27 “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of
Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this
prayer to you because you have revealed
all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will
build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’
28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your
words are truth, and you have promised
these good things to your servant. 29 And
now, may it please you to bless the house
of your servant, so that it may continue
7:19 Or This is your instruction for all humanity, O Sovereign
Lord. 7:23 As in Greek version (see also 1 Chr 17:21); Hebrew
reads You made a name for yourself and awesome miracles for
your land in the sight of your people, whom you redeemed from
Egypt, the nations and their gods. 8:1 Hebrew by conquering
Metheg-ammah, a name that means “the bridle,” possibly
referring to the size of the town or the tribute money taken from
it. Compare 1 Chr 18:1. 8:4 As in Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek
version (see also 1 Chr 18:4); Masoretic Text reads captured
1,700 charioteers. 8:8 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also
1 Chr 18:8); Hebrew reads Betah. 8:12 As in a few Hebrew
manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also 8:14; 1 Chr
18:11); most Hebrew manuscripts read Aram. 8:13 As in a few
Hebrew manuscripts and Greek and Syriac versions (see also
8:14; 1 Chr 18:12); most Hebrew manuscripts read Arameans.
8:18a Hebrew of the Kerethites and Pelethites. 8:18b Hebrew
David’s sons were priests; compare parallel text at 1 Chr 18:17.
forever before you. For you have spoken,
and when you grant a blessing to your
servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal
blessing!”
David’s Military Victories
After this, David defeated and subdued
the Philistines by conquering Gath, their
largest town.* 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 groups to be executed for every one group
to be spared. The Moabites who were spared
became David’s subjects and paid him tribute
money.
3 David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control
along the Euphrates River. 4 David captured
1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers,* and 20,000
foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses
except enough for 100 chariots.
5 When Arameans from Damascus arrived to
help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of
them. 6 Then he placed several army garrisons
in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him
tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
7 David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer’s officers to Jerusalem, 8 along with a large
amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s towns of
Tebah* and Berothai.
9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David
had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer,
10 he sent his son Joram to congratulate King David for his successful campaign. Hadadezer and
Toi had been enemies and were often at war. Joram presented David with many gifts of silver,
gold, and bronze.
11 King David dedicated all these gifts to the
Lord, as he did with the silver and gold from the
other nations he had defeated—12 from Edom,*
Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and
from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13 So David became even more famous when
he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites*
in the Valley of Salt. 14 He placed army garrisons
throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became
David’s subjects. In fact, the Lord made David
victorious wherever he went.
15 So David reigned over all Israel and did
what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab
son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son
of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the
court secretary. 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was
captain of the king’s bodyguard.* And David’s
sons served as priestly leaders.*
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