1 Chronicles
Chapter 18
DAVID’S CAMPAIGNS
David’s Victories
After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, taking Gath and its outlying villages.
He also defeated the Moabites. The Moabites became subject to David, pa-ying him taxes.
At Hamath, David defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah, who was trying to gain control of the territory by the river Euphrates.
David captured one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers from him. David hamstrung all the chariot teams, keeping only a hundred of them.
The Arameans of Damascus came to the help of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. Still, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.
Then David established governors in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David, paying him taxes. Wherever David went, the Lord gave him victory.
David took the golden shields of Hadadezer’s guards and brought them to Jerusalem.
David took a significant quantity of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, towns belonging to Hadadezer. With this, Solomon would make the bronze Sea, pillars, and furnishings.
When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah,
he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and to congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadadezer, since Hadadezer was the enemy of Tou. Hadoram brought articles of every kind, made of gold, silver, and bronze,
which King David also consecrated to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from all the nations: Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.
After that, David defeated the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand of them.
He imposed governors on Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David.Wherever David went, the Lord gave him victory.
David ruled over all of Israel, administering law and justice to all his people.
Joab, son of Zeruiah, was in command of the army. Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, was the recorder.
Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Abiathar, son of Ahimelech, were priests. Shavsha was the secretary.
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was in command of the Cheretites and Pelethites. David’s sons were the chief assistants of the king.
Commentaries
David’s Campaigns.
These three chapters bring together all the material related to David’s wars in one place. The Chronicler summarizes 2 Samuel 8-21, omitting details that could tarnish the image of an ideal David—the murder of Amnon and Absalom’s revolt—and including information that highlights David as a military leader. This way, it explains why David did not build the Temple (22:8; 28:3).
David’s Victories.
Over the Philistines (1), Moabites (2), Syrians (3-8), and Edomites (12ff) ensure peace on the borders, while justice and law stand out among his people.