1 Chronicles 18

David’s Kingdom Strengthened

1 Now after this it came about that David *18:1 Lit struck, and so in vv 1-3defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

3 David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his *18:3 Lit handrule to the river Euphrates. 4 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.

5 When the Arameans of *18:5 Heb DarmeseqDamascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David *18:5 Lit struckkilled twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans. 6 Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of *18:6 Heb DarmeseqDamascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold which were *18:7 Lit oncarried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from *18:8 In 2 Sam 8:8, BetahTibhath and Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze *18:8 I.e., large basinSea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

9 Now when *18:9 In 2 Sam 8:9, ToiTou king of Hamath heard that David had *18:9 Lit struckdefeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent *18:10 In 2 Sam 8:10, JoramHadoram his son to King David to *18:10 Lit ask him of his welfaregreet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had *18:10 Lit struckdefeated 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 *18:12 Lit struckdefeated 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 *18:14 Lit was doingadministered justice and righteousness for all his people. 15 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.