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David Strikes Down Nations

18 Now (A)it happened afterwards, that David struck the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. He also struck Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

Then David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to set up his [a]power at the Euphrates River. And David captured from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough of them for 100 chariots.

Then the Arameans of [b]Damascus came to help Hadadezer king (B)of Zobah. And David struck down 22,000 men of the Arameans. Then David placed garrisons among the Arameans of [c]Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went. And David took the small shields of gold which were [d]carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from [e]Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which (C)Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

Then [f]Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck down all the military force of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 so he sent [g]Hadoram his son to King David to [h]greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him down; 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 set these apart as holy to Yahweh 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 [i]smote 18,000 of Edom in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Yahweh granted salvation to David wherever he went.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or monument; lit hand
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:5 Heb Darmeseq
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Heb Darmeseq
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:7 Lit on
  5. 1 Chronicles 18:8 In 2 Sam 8:8, Betah
  6. 1 Chronicles 18:9 In 2 Sam 8:9, Toi
  7. 1 Chronicles 18:10 In 2 Sam 8:10, Joram
  8. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Lit ask him of his welfare
  9. 1 Chronicles 18:12 Or struck down

David’s Military Victories(A)

18 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines, and then took possession of Gath and its towns from Philistine control. He also conquered Moab, placing them in servitude and making them pay tribute.

David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah, which is near Hamath,[a] while he was going about establishing his hegemony[b] as far as the Euphrates[c] River. David confiscated 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, and hamstrung all of the chariot horses except for a reserve force of 100 chariots. When Arameans came from Damascus to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed 22,000 of them. David later erected garrisons[d] in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans were placed under servitude to David, to whom they paid tribute. David also confiscated the gold shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s officials and took them to Jerusalem. David also confiscated a vast quantity of bronze from Tibhath[e] and Cun, cities under Hadadezer’s control. Later on, Solomon crafted the bronze sea, the pillars, and the bronze vessels for the Temple.[f]

When King Tou of Hamath learned that David had conquered King Hadadezer of Zobah’s entire army, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to meet and congratulate him, because he had fought against and defeated Hadadezer. Since Hadadezer had often been to war against Tou, he sent all sorts of gold, silver, and bronze goods 11 to King David, which David[g] also dedicated to the Lord, along with silver and gold that he confiscated from all the surrounding[h] nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.

12 Zeruiah’s son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley. 13 He erected garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subservient to David, while the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:3 A city in Syria on the Orontes River
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Lit. hand
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or Perath; a river valley near Parah (cf. Jer 13:4-7)
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:6 So LXX. The Heb. lacks garrisons
  5. 1 Chronicles 18:8 So MT; cf. 2Sam 8:8
  6. 1 Chronicles 18:8 The Heb. lacks for the Temple
  7. 1 Chronicles 18:11 Lit. he
  8. 1 Chronicles 18:11 The Heb. lacks surrounding