David Extends His Kingdom

181 In the days that followed, David struck hard at the Philistines, bringing them to their knees, captured Gath, and took control of the surrounding countryside. 2 He also fought and defeated Moab. The Moabites came under David's rule and paid regular tribute. 3 On his way to restore his sovereignty at the Euphrates River, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah (over toward Hamath). 4 David captured a thousand chariots, 7,000 cavalry, and 20,000 infantry from him. He hamstrung all the chariot horses, but saved back a hundred. 5 When the Arameans from Damascus came to the aid of Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. 6 David set up a puppet government in Aram-Damascus. The Arameans became subjects of David and were forced to bring tribute. God gave victory to David wherever he marched. 7 David plundered the gold shields that belonged to the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 He also looted Tebah and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, of a huge quantity of bronze that Solomon later used to make the Great Bronze Sea, the Pillars, and bronze equipment in The Temple.

9 Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck down the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah. 10 He sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer. Tou and Hadadezer were old enemies. Hadoram brought David various things made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David consecrated these things along with the silver and gold that he had plundered from other nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. 12 Abishai son of Zeruiah fought and defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt - 18,000 of them. 13 He set up a puppet government in Edom and the Edomites became subjects under David. God gave David victory wherever he marched.

David's Officers

14 Thus David ruled over all of Israel. He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships. 15 Joab son of Zeruiah was head of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of public records; 16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the special forces, the Kerethites and Pelethites; And David's sons held high positions, close to the king.

The Sons of David

31 These are the sons that David had while he lived at Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel; second, Daniel by Abigail of Carmel; 2 third, Absalom born of Maacah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; fourth, Adonijah born of Haggith; 3 fifth, Shephatiah born of Abital; sixth, Ithream born of his wife Eglah. 4 He had these six sons while he was in Hebron; he was king there for seven years and six months. 5 These are the sons he had in Jerusalem: first Shammua, then Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel was the mother of these four. 6 And then there were another nine sons: Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, 7 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 8 Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet - 9 David's sons, plus Tamar their sister. There were other sons by his concubines.

The Decendants of Solomon

10 In the next generation Solomon had Rehoboam, who had Abijah, who had Asa, who had Jehoshaphat, 11 who had Jehoram, who had Ahaziah, who had Joash, 12 who had Amaziah, who had Azariah, who had Jotham, 13 who had Ahaz, who had Hezekiah, who had Manasseh, 14 who had Amon, who had Josiah. 15 Josiah's firstborn was Johanan, followed by Jehoiakim, then Zedekiah, and finally Shallum. 16 Jehoiakim's sons were Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) and Zedekiah. 17 The sons of Jeconiah born while he was captive in Babylon: Shealtiel, 18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 19 Pedaiah had Zerubbabel and Shimei; Zerubbabel had Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister. 20 And then five more - Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed. 21 Hananiah's sons were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. There were also sons of Rephaiah, sons of Arnan, sons of Obadiah, and sons of Shecaniah. 22 Shecaniah had Shemaiah who in his turn had Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat - six of them. 23 Neariah had three sons: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam. 24 And Elioenai had seven sons: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.