2 Samuel 8:17

8:17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar ¹  were priests; Seraiah was scribe;

2 Samuel 8:1

David Subjugates Nearby Nations

8:1 Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah ²  from the Philistines. ³ 

2 Samuel 2:1

David is Anointed King

2:1 Afterward David inquired of the Lord, “Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?” The Lord told him, “Go up.” David asked, “Where should I go?” The Lord replied, ⁴  “To Hebron.”

[8:17]  ¹ tc Here Ahimelech is called “the son of Abiathar,” but NCV, CEV, and REB reverse this to conform with 1 Sam 22:20. Most recent English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT) retain the order found in the MT.

[8:1]  ² tn Heb “the bridle of one cubit.” Many English versions treat this as a place name because the parallel text in 1 Chr 18:1 reads “Gath” (which is used by NLT here). It is possible that “the bridle of one cubit” is to be understood as “the token of surrender,” referring to the Philistine’s defeat rather than a specific place (cf. TEV, CEV).

[8:1]  ³ tn Heb “from the hand [i.e., control] of the Philistines.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “he said.” The referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.