David’s Military Campaigns

18 After this,(A) David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its villages from Philistine control. He also defeated the Moabites, and they became David’s subjects and brought tribute.

David also defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah at Hamath when he went to establish his control at the Euphrates River. David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers from him, hamstrung all the horses, and kept 100 chariots.[a]

When the Arameans of Damascus came to assist King Hadadezer of Zobah,(B) David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. Then he placed garrisons[b](C) in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tibhath and Cun, Hadadezer’s cities, David also took huge quantities of bronze, from which Solomon made the bronze reservoir, the pillars, and the bronze articles.(D)

When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Tou and Hadadezer had fought many wars. Hadoram brought all kinds of gold, silver, and bronze items. 11 King David also dedicated these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations—from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and the Amalekites.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel,(E) administering justice and righteousness for all his people.

15 Joab(F) son of Zeruiah was over the army;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was court historian;
16 Zadok son of Ahitub
and Ahimelech[c](G) son of Abiathar were priests;
Shavsha was court secretary;
17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada(H) was over
the Cherethites and the Pelethites;
and David’s sons were the chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:4 Or chariot horses
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg; other Hb mss omit garrisons; 2Sm 8:6
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read Abimelech; 2Sm 8:17

David’s Victories(A)

18 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

David also defeated the Moabites,(B) and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah,(C) in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at[a] the Euphrates River.(D) David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung(E) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

When the Arameans of Damascus(F) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah[b] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea,(G) the pillars and various bronze articles.

When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom(H) and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.(I)

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites(J) in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials(K)

14 David reigned(L) over all Israel,(M) doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab(N) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok(O) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[c](P) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;(Q) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or to restore his control over
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Hebrew Tibhath, a variant of Tebah
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek