1 Chronicles 18

Chapter 18

David’s Kingdom Strengthened

¹Now after this ^ait came about that David ¹defeated the Philistines and subdued them and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

²He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.

³David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his ¹rule to the Euphrates River.

⁴David took from him 1,000 chariots and 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for 100 chariots.

⁵When the Arameans of ¹Damascus came to help Hadadezer king ^aof Zobah, David ²killed 22,000 men of the Arameans.

⁶Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of ¹Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

⁷David took the shields of gold which were ¹carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

⁸Also from ¹Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a very large amount of bronze, with which ^aSolomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the bronze utensils.

⁹Now when ¹Tou king of Hamath heard that David had ²defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

¹⁰he sent ¹Hadoram his son to King David to ²greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and had ³defeated him; for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. And Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold and silver and bronze.

¹¹King David also dedicated these to the Lord with the silver and the gold which he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and from Amalek.

¹²Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah ¹defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

¹³Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.

¹⁴So David reigned over all Israel; and he ¹administered justice and righteousness for all his people.

^15aJoab the son of Zeruiah was over the army, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

¹⁶and Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was secretary;

¹⁷and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of David were chiefs at the king’s side.