1 Chronicles 18

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David Defeats His Enemies

1 1After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David also defeated 2Hadadezer king of 3Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument[a] at the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him 1,000 chariots, ,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king 4of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians.
6 Then David put garrisons[b] in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David[c] wherever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 And from 5Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. 6With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.
9 When 7Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king 8of Zobah,
10 he sent his son 9Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against 10Hadadezer and defeated him; for 11Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze.
11 These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from 12Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
12 And 13Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
13 Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

David’s Administration

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and equity to all his people.
15 And 14Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
16 15and Zadok the son of Ahitub and 16Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and 17Shavsha was secretary;
17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the 18chief officials in the service of the king.

1 Chronicles 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

David's victories.

( 2 Samuel 19 ) 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.

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1 Chronicles 18 Commentaries

Cross References 19

  • 1. 18:1 For ver. 1-17, see 2 Sam. 8:1-18
  • 2. 18:3 [2 Sam. 8:3]
  • 3. 18:3 See 1 Kgs. 8:65
  • 4. 18:4 [2 Sam. 8:4]
  • 5. 18:5 ch. 19:6
  • 6. 18:8 [2 Sam. 8:8]
  • 7. 18:8 1 Kgs. 7:15, 23; 2 Chr. 4:12, 15, 16
  • 8. 18:9 [2 Sam. 8:9]
  • 9. 18:9 [See ver. 5 above]
  • 10. 18:10 [2 Sam. 8:10]
  • 11. 18:10 [See ver. 3 above]
  • 12. 18:10 [See ver. 3 above]
  • 13. 18:11 [2 Sam. 8:12]
  • 14. 18:12 1 Sam. 26:6; [2 Sam. 8:13]
  • 15. 18:15 [ch. 11:6]
  • 16. 18:16 [2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25]
  • 17. 18:16 [ch. 24:3, 6]
  • 18. 18:16 [2 Sam. 8:17; 1 Kgs. 4:3]
  • 19. 18:17 [2 Sam. 8:18]

Footnotes 3

  • [a] 18:3 Hebrew 'hand'
  • [b] 18:6 Septuagint, Vulgate, 2 Samuel 8:6 (compare Syriac); Hebrew lacks 'garrisons'
  • [c] 18:6 Hebrew 'the 'Lord'saved David'; also verse 13

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 18

The eighteenth and nineteenth chapters are the same with 2Sa 8:1-10:19, 20:1-26 with very little variations, which are observed in the notes on them, to which the reader is referred. 18850-950102-2024-1Ch18.2

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025