The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and attacked us ¹  in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way ²  to the door of the city gate.

“When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false. ¹ 

King Solomon also built ships ¹  in Ezion Geber, which is located near Elat in the land of Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea.

(Hiram’s fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a very large quantity of fine timber and precious gems.

Solomon accumulated ¹  chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem. ² 

He gathered some men and organized a raiding band. ¹  When David tried to kill them, ²  they went to Damascus, where they settled down and gained control of the city.

Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. ¹  He would send as tribute ²  to the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams.

When the king of Moab realized he was losing the battle, ¹  he and 700 swordsmen tried to break through and attack ²  the king of Edom, but they failed.

Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, “Invade ¹  at such and such ²  a place.”

Later King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled his entire army and attacked ¹  and besieged Samaria. ² 

He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground, ¹  her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her. ² 

King Shalmaneser of Assyria threatened ¹  him; Hoshea became his subject and paid him tribute.

The king of Babylon deported to Babylon all the soldiers (there were 7,000), as well as 1,000 craftsmen and metal workers. This included all the best warriors. ¹ 

Zedekiah’s sons were executed while Zedekiah was forced to watch. ¹  The king of Babylon ²  then had Zedekiah’s eyes put out, bound him in bronze chains, and carried him off to Babylon.

According to the genealogical records of their families, they had 36,000 warriors available for battle, for they had numerous wives and sons. ¹ 

Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority ¹  to the Euphrates River. ² 

He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The Lord protected ¹  David wherever he campaigned. ² 

Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised ¹  the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s leading officials. ²