Christianity
1 Chronicles 18David's Victories and Justice
Summary
1 Chronicles 18 summarizes David's wars: he subdues the Philistines, Moab, Hadarezer of Zobah, the Syrians of Damascus and Edom, and receives tribute from Hamath. He dedicates the captured gold, silver and bronze to the LORD, and the Chronicler adds that Solomon later used this bronze for the temple's sea, pillars and vessels. David reigns over all Israel with justice, and his officials, including Joab, Jehoshaphat and Zadok, are named.
Key verse
“So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.”
1 Chronicles 18:14
Themes
- Victory
- Justice
- Dedication
- Temple Preparation
Text
Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Christianity
2 Samuel 8: David's WarsThis chapter follows 2 Samuel 8 closely. The added note in 18:8 ties David's plunder to the future temple, a typical Chronicler link.
Islam
Surah Saad (38): David the RulerQuran 38:26 tells David that God has made him a viceroy in the earth and commands him to judge between people with truth, echoing the picture of David executing justice.
Questions about 1 Chronicles 18
What did David do with the treasure he captured?
1 Chronicles 18:11 says he dedicated it to the LORD, and verse 8 notes that bronze from Hadarezer's cities was later used by Solomon for the temple furnishings.
What does executed judgment and justice mean?
Verse 14 describes David as ruling fairly over all his people; in Hebrew thought, justice and righteousness together describe the ideal king's duty.