1 Chronicles 18

David Takes Territory

1 After all that, David went and smashed the Philistines. He took Gath and all the towns around it out of their hands.

2 Then he took down Moab, and they became his servants, paying him tribute.

3 Next, David rolled up on Hadadezer, king of Zobah, while he was trying to stretch his power up near the Euphrates River. David cut him off.

4 David took a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung most of the horses but kept a hundred for his own use.

Arameans Try to Help, but Fail

5 The Arameans of Damascus came through to help Hadadezer. But David struck them down, twenty-two thousand of them.

6 David set up military bases in Aram of Damascus. The Arameans had no choice but to serve David and pay up. The LORD was with David, giving him victory wherever he moved.

7 David took the gold shields from Hadadezer’s officers and brought them back to Jerusalem.

8 He also pulled a large amount of bronze from Tibhath and Cun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer. Solomon later used that bronze to make the bronze Sea, pillars, and all kinds of temple gear.

Respect from the Nations

9 When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had knocked off Hadadezer (a rival of his),

10 He sent his son Hadoram to bring David blessings, along with gold, silver, and bronze, to show love for what he did.

11 David did not keep it for himself. He dedicated all that silver and gold to the LORD, just like he did with the treasure from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and Amalek.

More Enemies Fall

12 Abishai, son of Zeruiah, struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

13 David put soldiers in Edom, too. The whole nation came under his rule. Wherever David went, the LORD gave him the win.

David’s Leadership and Justice

14 David ran things like a real king should, ruling all Israel with justice and righteousness.

15 Joab, son of Zeruiah, was over the army. Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud, was the official record-keeper.

16 Zadok (son of Ahitub) and Ahimelech (son of Abiathar) were the priests. Shavsha was the scribe.

17 Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, was over the Kerethites and Pelethites (David’s elite guard). And David’s sons were right there beside him, serving in leadership roles.