2Samuel 8-9 - Prayer Tents

2Samuel 8

David’s Military Victories

8After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town

.H310H1732H5221H6430H3665H1732H3947H4965H3027H64302David 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.H5221H4124H4058H2256H7901H776H8147H2256H4058H4191H4393H2256H2421H4124H1732H5650H5375H45033David also destroyed the forces of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when Hadadezer marched out to strengthen his control along the Euphrates River.H1732H5221H1909H1121H7340H4428H6678H3212H7725H3027H5104H65784David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers

, and 20,000 foot soldiers. He crippled all the chariot horses except enough for 100 chariots.H1732H3920H505H7651H3967H6571H6242H505H376H7273H1732H6131H7393H3498H3967H73935When Arameans from Damascus arrived to help King Hadadezer, David killed 22,000 of them.H758H1834H935H5826H1909H4428H6678H1732H5221H758H8147H6242H505H3766Then 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.H1732H7760H5333H758H1834H758H5650H1732H5375H4503H3068H3467H1732H19807David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers to Jerusalem,H1732H3947H7982H2091H5650H1909H935H33898along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer's towns of Tebah

and Berothai.H984H1268H5892H1909H4428H1732H3947H3966H7235H51789When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had destroyed the entire army of Hadadezer,H8583H4428H2574H8085H1732H5221H2428H190910he 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.H8583H7971H3141H1121H4428H1732H7592H7965H1288H3898H1909H5221H1909H376H4421H8583H3027H3627H3701H3627H2091H3627H517811King David dedicated all these gifts to the LORD, as he did with the silver and gold from the other nations he had defeated—H4428H1732H6942H3068H3701H2091H6942H1471H353312from Edom

, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek—and from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.H758H4124H1121H5983H6430H6002H7998H1909H1121H7340H4428H667813So David became even more famous when he returned from destroying 18,000 Edomites

in the Valley of Salt.H1732H6213H8034H7725H5221H758H1516H4417H8083H6240H50514He placed army garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. In fact, the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.H7760H5333H123H123H7760H5333H123H1732H5650H3068H3467H1732H198015So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.H1732H4427H3478H1732H6213H4941H6666H597116Joab son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian.H3097H1121H6870H6635H3092H1121H286H214217Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were the priests. Seraiah was the court secretary.H6659H1121H285H288H1121H54H3548H8304H560818Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king's bodyguard

. And David's sons served as priestly leaders.H1141H1121H3077H3774H6432H1732H1121H3548

2Samuel 9

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9One day David asked, "Is anyone in Saul's family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"H1732H559H3426H3498H1004H7586H6213H2617H30832He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul's servants. "Are you Ziba?" the king asked."Yes sir, I am," Ziba replied.H1004H7586H5650H8034H6717H7121H1732H4428H559H6717H559H56503The king then asked him, "Is anyone still alive from Saul's family? If so, I want to show God's kindness to them." Ziba replied, "Yes, one of Jonathan's sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet."H4428H559H657H376H1004H7586H6213H2617H430H6717H559H4428H3083H1121H5223H72724"Where is he?" the king asked."In Lo-debar," Ziba told him, "at the home of Makir son of Ammiel."H4428H559H375H6717H559H4428H1004H4353H1121H5988H38105So David sent for him and brought him from Makir's home.H4428H1732H7971H3947H1004H4353H1121H5988H38106His name was Mephibosheth

; he was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, "Greetings, Mephibosheth." Mephibosheth replied, "I am your servant."H4648H1121H3083H1121H7586H935H1732H5307H6440H7812H1732H559H4648H559H56507"Don't be afraid!" David said. "I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king's table!"H1732H559H3372H6213H6213H2617H3083H1H7725H7704H7586H1H398H3899H7979H85488Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?"H7812H559H5650H6437H4191H36119Then the king summoned Saul's servant Ziba and said, "I have given your master's grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.H4428H7121H6717H7586H5288H559H5414H113H1121H1961H7586H100410You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master's household

. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will eat here at my table." (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)H1121H5650H5647H127H935H113H1121H3899H398H4648H113H1121H398H3899H8548H7979H6717H2568H6240H1121H6242H565011Ziba replied, "Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded." And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David's table

, like one of the king's own sons.H559H6717H4428H113H4428H6680H5650H5650H6213H4648H398H7979H259H4428H112112Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba's household were Mephibosheth's servants.H4648H6996H1121H8034H4316H4186H1004H6717H5650H464813And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king's table.H4648H3427H3389H398H8548H4428H7979H6455H8147H7272