1 Chronicles 18

This chapter summarizes David’s military victories over Israel’s neighbors: Philistines, Moabites, Arameans, Edomites and others. It stresses that the LORD gave him victory, and that the spoils were dedicated to God. It closes with a list of the officials who helped David rule with justice and righteousness.

1 Chronicles 18:1

David broke the long Philistine threat by taking Gath, a leading Philistine city, and its surrounding towns. Gath was the hometown of Goliath. After years of Philistine pressure on Israel, the enemy was now humbled.

BSA: subdued (“humbled, bent the knee”): The Philistines were not only beaten but brought low, forced to yield to David’s rule.

See also: 1 Samuel 17:4.

1 Chronicles 18:2

Moab, east of the Dead Sea, was also defeated and made to pay tribute. Tribute was a regular payment from a conquered people to their ruler. David’s kingdom now reached beyond Israel’s own borders.

BSA: subject (“servants, slaves”): Moab came under David’s authority and served him.

1 Chronicles 18:3

Hadadezer, king of Zobah in Syria, was extending his power toward the Euphrates. David met and defeated him. This fulfilled God’s old promise of a land stretching toward that great river.

Hebrew: הִכָּה (hikkah, H5221) — “he struck, smote.” This common Hebrew word for striking is used again and again in the chapter. It shows that the victories came through hard, decisive battle.

See also: Genesis 15:18.

1 Chronicles 18:4

David took a huge force of chariots and soldiers. Then he crippled most of the horses, keeping only enough for a hundred chariots. This followed God’s instruction that Israel’s kings not build their trust on great numbers of horses.

BSA: hamstrung (“cut the legs, crippled”): Cutting the leg tendons left the horses useless for war, so they could not be used against Israel.

See also: Deuteronomy 17:16; Psalm 20:7.

1 Chronicles 18:5

The Arameans of Damascus came to rescue their ally Hadadezer, but they were defeated too. Twenty-two thousand were struck down. Combined enemy forces were still no match for David.

BSA: help (“succor, give aid”): Aram came to relieve its ally, yet its help could not stand against the one God was blessing.

1 Chronicles 18:6

David set garrisons, or military posts, in Damascus, and Aram began paying tribute. The writer then gives the real reason for the success: the LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

BSA: victorious (“gave salvation, enabled to win”): The word is the one for saving or delivering, so these wins are shown as God’s saving work through David.

Hebrew: וַיּוֹשַׁע (vayyosha, H3467) — “and he saved, gave victory.” It comes from the root that gives us the name Joshua and Jesus, ’the LORD saves.’ The victory is credited to God.

See also: Psalm 18:50.

1 Chronicles 18:7

David carried off gold shields from Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. The captured wealth went to the capital, which was also the center of worship.

BSA: Jerusalem (“the city of peace”): The spoils of war ended up in the city whose name speaks of peace.

1 Chronicles 18:8

From two of Hadadezer’s cities David took a great quantity of bronze. Later Solomon used it for the temple’s large bronze basin called the Sea, its pillars and its other bronze vessels. David’s wars helped prepare for the temple.

BSA: Sea (“a large basin”): The Sea was a huge basin in the temple courtyard, used by the priests for washing.

See also: 1 Kings 7:23-26.

1 Chronicles 18:9-10

Tou, king of Hamath, was glad Hadadezer was beaten, since Hadadezer had been his enemy. He sent his son Hadoram with greetings, a blessing and gifts of gold, silver and bronze. This peaceful respect shows how far David’s reputation had spread.

BSA: bless (“to praise, honor, or kneel in worship”): Tou’s son came with honor and respect, acknowledging David’s greatness.

1 Chronicles 18:11

David did not keep the treasure for himself. He set it apart for the LORD, along with silver and gold taken from Edom, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines and Amalek. The wealth of the nations was given to the service of God’s house.

BSA: dedicated (“to consecrate, set apart as holy”): The treasure was made holy by being set apart for God’s use, not David’s.

Hebrew: הִקְדִּישׁ (hiqdish, H6942) — “he consecrated, made holy.” It comes from the word for holy. To dedicate something was to take it from ordinary use and give it to God.

See also: 2 Samuel 8:11.

1 Chronicles 18:12-13

Abishai, David’s commander and nephew, defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Edom then came under David’s rule with garrisons. Again the writer reminds us that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went.

BSA: garrisons (“military posts, armed forces”): David kept troops stationed in Edom to hold it securely.

1 Chronicles 18:14

With the wars summarized, the writer shows what kind of king David was. He ruled all Israel and gave his people justice and righteousness. A good king is measured by fairness as well as by victories.

BSA: justice (“righteous judgment”): David’s rule included fair judgment for the people, not only military power.

Hebrew: מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה (mishpat utsedaqah, H4941) — “justice and righteousness.” These two words often appear together in Scripture. They describe a ruler who is fair in judging and right in character.

See also: Psalm 89:14.

1 Chronicles 18:15

Joab led the army, and Jehoshaphat was the recorder. The recorder kept the king’s records and probably reminded him of matters of state. A kingdom needs both fighters and careful administrators.

BSA: recorder (“one who remembers, a remembrancer, keeper of records”): His task was to keep memory and records for the king’s government.

1 Chronicles 18:16

Zadok and Ahimelech served as priests, caring for the worship of Israel, and Shavsha was the scribe who handled written affairs. Worship and the written word had a place beside the government of the nation.

BSA: priests (“spiritual leaders, mediators between God and man”): Priests stood between the people and God, offering sacrifice and leading worship.

1 Chronicles 18:17

Benaiah commanded the Cherethites and Pelethites, who seem to have been David’s trusted royal guard. David’s sons were chief officials at his side. The chapter ends with a settled, orderly kingdom, secure at home and respected abroad.

BSA: chief officials (“leaders, princes”): David’s sons held places of honor close to the king.