David’s Further Conquests(A)

18 After this (B)it came to pass that David [a]attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. Then he [b]defeated (C)Moab, and the Moabites became David’s (D)servants, and brought tribute.

And (E)David [c]defeated [d]Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. David took from him one thousand chariots, [e]seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David [f]hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

When the (F)Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from [g]Tibhath and from [h]Chun, cities of [i]Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of (G)bronze, with which (H)Solomon made the bronze [j]Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

Now when [k]Tou king of Hamath heard that David had [l]defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent [m]Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and [n]defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of (I)articles of gold, silver, and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations—from Edom, from Moab, from the (J)people of Ammon, from the (K)Philistines, and from (L)Amalek.

12 Moreover (M)Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed (N)eighteen thousand [o]Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 (O)He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

David’s Administration(P)

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and [p]Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; [q]Shavsha was the scribe; 17 (Q)Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were [r]chief ministers at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:1 Lit. struck
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:2 Lit. struck
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Lit. struck
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Heb. Hadarezer
  5. 1 Chronicles 18:4 seven hundred, 2 Sam. 8:4
  6. 1 Chronicles 18:4 crippled
  7. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Betah, 2 Sam. 8:8
  8. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Berothai, 2 Sam. 8:8
  9. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Heb. Hadarezer
  10. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Great laver or basin
  11. 1 Chronicles 18:9 Toi, 2 Sam. 8:9, 10
  12. 1 Chronicles 18:9 Lit. struck
  13. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Joram, 2 Sam. 8:10
  14. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Lit. struck
  15. 1 Chronicles 18:12 Syrians, 2 Sam. 8:13
  16. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Ahimelech, 2 Sam. 8:17
  17. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Seraiah, 2 Sam. 8:17, or Shisha, 1 Kin. 4:3
  18. 1 Chronicles 18:17 Lit. at the hand of the king

David’s Military Campaigns

18 After this,(A) David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its surrounding villages from Philistine control. He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River. David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept a hundred chariots.[a]

When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah,(B) David struck down twenty-two thousand Aramean men. Then he placed garrisons[b](C) in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze basin,[c] the pillars, and the bronze articles.(D)

When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations—from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel,(E) administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

15 Joab(F) son of Zeruiah was over the army;

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;

16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech[d](G) son of Abiathar were priests;

Shavsha was court secretary;

17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(H) was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites;

and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 18:4 Or chariot horses
  2. 18:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss omit garrisons; 2Sm 8:6
  3. 18:8 Lit sea
  4. 18:16 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read Abimelech; 2Sm 8:17