1 Chronicles Chapter 18
1 After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.
3 David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
4 David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots.
5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.
6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
7 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
10 he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to Greet him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.
11 King David also dedicated these to the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, from Moab, from the children of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13 He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
14 David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for 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 Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
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1 Chronicles Chapter 18 Guide
With slight variations, this chapter is identical with 2 Samuel 8:1-18. It tells the story of David's victories over surrounding foes by which he made the boundaries of his kingdom secure, and put himself in position to increase his trading facilities. First, he dealt with the Philistines on the southwest, and then turned to the northeast, where he secured a position on the great river. The Edomites were defeated by Joab and Abishai, and so security and opportunity to trade were made certain.
In view of the desire of the king to build the Temple of God, this chapter is of special interest, as it shows how in all these wars David was amassing treasure with that end in view. The Moabites and the Syrians brought presents. Shields of gold and much brass were gathered from the cities and servants of Hadarezer. Vessels of gold and silver and brass were sent by Tou. All these things were dedicated to the Lord.
Thus through all the days of conflict, and notwithstanding the fact that he was not to be personally permitted to build, the desire to accomplish his purpose burned in his heart.
The story suggests to us the possibility of our helping very really the work of God to which, in some respects, we may not be permitted to put our hands. The passion of the heart may have been to go into the foreign field of service, and for some reason the way is blocked, evidently by God. The temptation is to think that therefore we are excluded from that work. Let us rather set ourselves to gather treasure for the work, and so keep the passion burning.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Chronicles Chapter 18 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- David's victories.
Verses 1-17
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.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.