1 Chronicles 18

David’s Further Conquests

1. After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

2. Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.

3. And David defeated Hadadezer[a] king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates.

4. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand[b] horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots.

5. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.

6. 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.

7. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8. Also from Tibhath[c] and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

9. Now when Tou[d] king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

10. he sent Hadoram[e] his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of 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 people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12. Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites[f] in the Valley of Salt.

13. 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

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 Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha[g] was the scribe;

17. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers at the king’s side.

Footnotes:

a. 1 Chronicles 18:3: Hebrew Hadarezer, and so throughout chapters 18 and 19
b. 1 Chronicles 18:4: Or seven hundred (compare 2 Samuel 8:4)
c. 1 Chronicles 18:8: Spelled Betah in 2 Samuel 8:8
d. 1 Chronicles 18:9: Spelled Toi in 2 Samuel 8:9, 10
e. 1 Chronicles 18:10: Spelled Joram in 2 Samuel 8:10
f. 1 Chronicles 18:12: Or Syrians (compare 2 Samuel 8:13)
g. 1 Chronicles 18:16: Spelled Seraiah in 2 Samuel 8:17