The wars of King David

A list of David's victories in war

(1 Chronicles 18.1-13)

1Later, David attacked and badly defeated the Philistines. Israel was now free from their control.8.1 Israel…control: Or “David also took the town of Metheg-Ammah away from them.”

2David also defeated the Moabites. Then he made their soldiers lie down on the ground, and he measured them off with a rope. He would measure off two lengths of the rope and have those men killed, then he would measure off one length and let those men live. The people of Moab had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him.

3David set out for the River Euphrates to build a monument8.3 monument: Kings sometimes set up monuments in lands they had conquered. there. On his way,8.3 David…way: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. It may have been Hadadezer who was going to the River Euphrates. And he may have gone there either to build a monument or to put down a rebellion. he defeated the king of Zobah, whose name was Hadadezer the son of Rehob. 4In the battle, David captured seventeen hundred cavalry8.4 seventeen hundred cavalry: Hebrew; one ancient translation and 1 Chronicles 18.4 “a thousand chariots and seven thousand cavalry”. and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He also captured war chariots, but he destroyed all but one hundred of them.8.4 He also captured…them: Or “He crippled all but one hundred of the horses.” 5When troops from the Aramean kingdom of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David killed twenty thousand of them. 6He left some of his soldiers in Damascus, and the Arameans had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him.

Everywhere David went, the LORD helped him win battles.

7Hadadezer's officers had carried their arrows in gold cases hung over their shoulders, but David took these cases8.7 Hadadezer's…cases: Or “Hadadezer's soldiers carried gold shields, but David took these shields.” and brought them to Jerusalem. 8He also took a lot of bronze from the cities of Betah and Berothai, which had belonged to Hadadezer.

9-10King Toi of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Toi heard that David had attacked and defeated8.9,10 defeated: Or “killed”. Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Joram to praise and congratulate David. Joram also brought him gifts made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11David gave these to the LORD, just as he had done with the silver and gold that he had captured from 12Edom,8.12 Edom: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.11); most Hebrew manuscripts “Aram”. In Hebrew the words for “Edom” and “Aram” look almost alike. Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and from King Hadadezer of Zobah.

13David fought the Edomite8.13 Edomite: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.12); most Hebrew manuscripts “Aramean”. In Hebrew the words for “Edomite” and “Aramean” look almost alike. army in Salt Valley and killed eighteen thousand of their soldiers. When he returned, he built a monument.8.13 built a monument: Or “was famous”.8.13: Ps 60 Title. 14David left soldiers all through Edom, and the people of Edom had to accept him as their ruler.

Wherever David went, the LORD helped him.

A list of David's officials

(1 Chronicles 18.14-17)

15David ruled all Israel with fairness and justice.

16Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army.

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.

17Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech,8.17 Abiathar the son of Ahimelech: One ancient translation and 1 Samuel 22.11-23; Hebrew “Ahimelech the son of Abiathar”. were the priests.

Seraiah was the secretary.

18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of8.18 was the commander of: Not in the Hebrew text of this verse, but see 1 Chronicles 18.17. David's bodyguard.8.18 David's bodyguard: The Hebrew text has “the Cherethites and the Pelethites”, who were foreign soldiers hired by David to be his bodyguard.

David's sons were priests.