1 Chronicles
Summary
David’s military successes are chronicled as he strikes and subdues the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, and Edomites, bringing vast riches into Jerusalem for the future Temple. He captures city after city, from Gath to Damascus, dedicating all the gold, silver, and bronze trophies to the LORD. The chapter also details the administration of his growing empire, identifying the key officials, such as Joab the general and Zadok the priest, who helped David govern Israel with judgement and justice.
After this it came to pass that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then he struck Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants and brought tribute.
And David struck Hadarezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the River Euphrates.
David took from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved one hundred chariots of them.
When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians.
Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever 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 Cun, cities of Hadarezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck the entire army of Hadarezer king of Zobah,
he sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and struck him (for Hadarezer had been at war with Tou); and he sent all kinds of vessels of gold, silver, and bronze.
King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and the gold that he had brought from all these nations: from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgement and justice to all his people.
Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief officials at the king’s side.