1 Chronicles 18 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Roughly the 990s to 980s BC, the expansion phase of David's forty-year reign
Location
The territories ringing Israel: Philistine country on the coastal plain to the west, Moab east of the Dead Sea, the Aramean kingdom of Zobah north toward Damascus, and Edom to the south
Audience
Returned exiles living in a small province around Jerusalem, ruled by Persia and holding a fraction of the land their ancestors once controlled
Situation
A summary list of David's campaigns: he defeats the Philistines, Moab, Hadadezer king of Zobah, the Arameans of Damascus, and the Edomites, taking tribute and bronze that he dedicates for the future temple. The chapter closes with a roster of his cabinet officials.
Key Background
Egypt and the Mesopotamian powers were both weak in this century, and that gap let a small hill-country kingdom briefly dominate the trade corridors between them, which is the only window in which an empire like David's was possible. Dedicating captured metal to a temple was a recognized practice, and the Chronicler stresses it because it makes the wars serve the sanctuary rather than David's glory. Naming the recorder, the scribe, and the commander of foreign mercenaries shows a real administration forming, since a raiding chief needs no bureaucracy but a king collecting tribute from vassal states does.
After this, David defeated the and brought them under his control. He took and its surrounding towns from Philistine hands.
He also defeated and the Moabites became subject to David and brought him
David also defeated king of toward Hamath, as was going to establish his control along the Euphrates River.
David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He all but a hundred of the chariot horses.
When the of came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.
David then stationed in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. Yahweh gave David wherever he went.
David took the that Hadadezer's officers carried and brought them to Jerusalem.
From Tibhath and Cun, cities belonging to Hadadezer, David took a huge quantity of Solomon later used it to make the basin, the pillars, and the equipment for the temple.
When Tou king of heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
he sent son Hadoram to King David to and to congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadadezer — because Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles made of gold, silver, and bronze.
King David these to along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all the nations: from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
of struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the of
He stationed garrisons in and all the Edomites became subject to David. Yahweh gave David victory wherever he went.
David ruled over all Israel, administering and doing what was for all his people.
son of Zeruiah was commander of the army. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the
Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were Shavsha was the
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the and And David's sons held the most at the