1 Chronicles18
New International Version
1In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.
2David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.
3Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the Euphrates River.
4David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
5When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.
6He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
7David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.
9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.
11King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.
12Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.
14David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.
15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;
16Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's victories. (1-17).
vv1-17
This chapter is the same as 2Sa 8. Our good fight of faith, under the Captain of our salvation, will end in everlasting triumph and peace. The happiness of Israel, through David's victories, and just government, faintly shadowed forth the happiness of the redeemed in the realms above.
Key Words
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
כֵּן: properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and relation; often with other particles)
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
נָכָה: to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
פְּלִשְׁתִּי: a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
כָּנַע: properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
גַּת: Gath, a Philistine city
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
1 Chronicles 18Direct parallel account of David's conquest of Gath and the Philistines.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel details of David's war with Hadadezer/Hadarezer king of Zobah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel text exhibiting the textual variation between seven hundred and seven thousand horsemen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel listing Betah and Berothai for the source cities of David's brass.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel recording of David putting garrisons in Edom and the Lord preserving him.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel for David's execution of judgment and justice over all Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Direct parallel listing Zadok, Ahimelech/Abimelech, and the scribe.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct parallel detailing the Cherethites, Pelethites, and David's sons.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel detailing the defeat of Moab and imposition of tribute.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel recording Tou (or Toi) king of Hamath's reaction.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of God's covenant promise to extend Israel's border to the Euphrates.
Supported by JFB
Divine command to hough horses, which David obeys here with the captured chariots.
Provides historical background on Joab and the conquest of the Edomites.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the Cherethites associated with the Philistine territory from David's early years.
Supported by JFB
Fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy that a sceptre would rise out of Israel to smite Moab.
Supported by JFB