1 Chronicles 18: David's victories and his officers
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What happens?
David defeats the Philistines, Moab, Hadadezer king of Zobah and the Syrians who come to help him, and takes bronze, gold shields and chariots from them. Tou king of Hamath sends his son to greet David, and David dedicates the silver and gold to Yahweh, while Abishai strikes Edom in the Valley of Salt. The chapter closes with David reigning over all Israel and the list of his officers.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter, and nobody in it is quoted speaking. Verses 6 and 13 say that Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went, which is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
In plain English: After this, David struck the Philistines and brought them under him. He took Gath and its towns (literally: daughters) out of the hand of the Philistines.
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2He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
In plain English: He struck Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants and brought tribute.
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3David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
In plain English: David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to set up his power (literally: his hand; see the note) at the river Euphrates.
The Hebrew words: "Dominion" is yad, which the dictionary gives as "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)". Word for word the verse says "to set up his hand". The verse does not name the one who went: it can be David going to set up his power, or Hadadezer going to set up his.
What changes: Read one way, David struck Hadadezer while David was on the way to the Euphrates. Read the other way, he struck him while Hadadezer was on the way there. says "as he went to recover his dominion at the River", and it does not name him either.
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4David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots.
In plain English: David captured from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand men on foot. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but he kept enough of them for one hundred chariots.
Good to know: gives the numbers as "one thousand seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen", without the chariots. This verse has one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand men on foot. The two verses are set side by side here, and the text does not explain the difference.
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5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.
In plain English: The Syrians (or: Arameans) of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, and David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians.
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6Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
In plain English: David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became David's servants and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
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7David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
In plain English: David took the gold shields that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
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8From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
In plain English: From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a great deal of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars and the bronze vessels.
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9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
In plain English: Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck the whole army of Hadadezer king of Zobah.
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10he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and bronze.
In plain English: He sent Hadoram his son to King David to ask about his welfare (literally: to ask him for peace) and to bless him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and struck him. Hadadezer had been a man of wars with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of vessels of gold, silver and bronze.
Good to know: names the same king "Toi" and his son "Joram", and says Joram brought "vessels of silver, vessels of gold, and vessels of bronze". This verse has "Tou" and "Hadoram". The text does not say why the names differ.
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11King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations: from Edom, from Moab, from the children of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
In plain English: King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, along with the silver and gold he had carried away from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines and Amalek.
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12Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
In plain English: Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Good to know: says David "earned a reputation when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand men of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt". This verse says Abishai struck eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. The two verses name different people and a different enemy, and the text does not explain the difference.
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13He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
In plain English: He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
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14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness for all his people.
In plain English: David reigned over all Israel, and he did justice and righteousness for all his people.
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15Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
In plain English: Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder.
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16Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe;
In plain English: Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests. Shavsha was the scribe.
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17and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials serving the king.
In plain English: Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. David's sons were the first at the king's side (this Bible: chief officials serving the king).
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