David’s Kingdom Strengthened

18 Now after this (A)it came about that David [a]defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his [b]rule to the river Euphrates. David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and David hamstrung almost all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for a hundred chariots.

When the Arameans of [c]Damascus came to help Hadadezer king (B)of Zobah, David [d]killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans. Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of [e]Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold which were [f]carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from [g]Tibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which (C)Solomon made the bronze [h]Sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

Now when [i]Tou king of Hamath heard that David had [j]defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent [k]Hadoram his son to King David to [l]greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had [m]defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah [n]defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel; and he [o]administered justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 (D)Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was secretary; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:1 Lit struck, and so in vv 1-3
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Lit hand
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:5 Heb Darmeseq
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:5 Lit struck
  5. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Heb Darmeseq
  6. 1 Chronicles 18:7 Lit on
  7. 1 Chronicles 18:8 In 2 Sam 8:8, Betah
  8. 1 Chronicles 18:8 I.e., large basin
  9. 1 Chronicles 18:9 In 2 Sam 8:9, Toi
  10. 1 Chronicles 18:9 Lit struck
  11. 1 Chronicles 18:10 In 2 Sam 8:10, Joram
  12. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Lit ask him of his welfare
  13. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Lit struck
  14. 1 Chronicles 18:12 Lit struck
  15. 1 Chronicles 18:14 Lit was doing

David’s wars

18 Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control. He also defeated Moab, enslaving them and requiring payment. David defeated Zobah’s King Hadadezer at Hamath, as he continued to establish his control along the Euphrates River. David captured one thousand chariots from him, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Then David cut the hamstrings of all but one hundred of the chariot horses. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Zobah’s King Hadadezer, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Arameans. David stationed soldiers[a] in Aram of Damascus, enslaved them, and required payment. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities, David took large amounts of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze basin,[b] the pillars, and the bronze equipment.

When Hamath’s King Tou heard that David had defeated the entire army of Zobah’s King Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to wish him well and to congratulate him over his battle and defeat of Hadadezer, because Tou was an enemy of Hadadezer. Hadoram brought with him all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze objects. 11 King David dedicated these to the Lord along with the silver and the gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. 12 Abishai, Zeruiah’s son, struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13 He stationed soldiers in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s slaves. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s administration

14 David ruled over all Israel and maintained justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 Zeruiah’s son Joab was in command of the army; Ahilud’s son Jehoshaphat was recorder; 16 Ahitub’s son Zadok and Abiathar’s son Ahimelech[c] were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s chief personal advisors.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Cf 2 Sam 8:6; Heb lacks soldiers.
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Or sea
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:16 LXX, Syr; MT Abimelech