Key Verse Spotlight
1 Chronicles 18:1 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. "
1 Chronicles 18:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
1 After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
3 David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
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After this, it is said in (1 Chronicles 18:1) that David went on to do these great deeds. After the sweet fellowship he had with God through the word and prayer in the previous chapter, he returned to his work with unusual strength and courage. He went forward, conquering and to conquer, like Jacob, who after his vision got up and went on his way (Genesis 29:1).
We have already looked at these victories, so here we should only notice a few things. First, enemies who have long opposed the people of God will finally be brought down. The Philistines had troubled Israel for many generations, but David defeated them now (1 Chronicles 18:1). So, in the end, the Son of David, Christ, will put down every opposing rule, power, and authority, and the most stubborn enemies will fall before him.
Second, this world is uncertain, and people often lose their wealth and power when they are trying hardest to secure them. Hadadezer was struck down as he went out to strengthen his rule (1 Chronicles 18:3). Third, a horse is a vain thing for safety, as David said (Psalm 33:17), and he seems to have lived by that truth, for he hamstrung the chariot horses (1 Chronicles 18:4). Since he was determined not to trust in them (Psalm 20:7), he would not make use of them.
Fourth, the enemies of God’s church often help bring about their own ruin by helping one another (1 Chronicles 18:5). The Syrians of Damascus were defeated when they came to help Hadadezer. When people join hands in evil, they will not escape punishment. They will be gathered like sheaves into the threshing floor (Micah 4:11, Micah 4:12).
Fifth, the wealth of sinners is sometimes turned over to the righteous. The Syrians brought gifts (1 Chronicles 18:6), and their gold shields and bronze were brought to Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 18:7, 1 Chronicles 18:8). As the tabernacle was built with the spoils of the Egyptians, so the temple was built with the spoils of other Gentile nations. This was a happy sign of the share the Gentiles would later have in the gospel church.
From This Chapter
1 Chronicles 18:2
"He defeated Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute."
1 Chronicles 18:3
"David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates."
1 Chronicles 18:4
"David 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."
1 Chronicles 18:5
"When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck twenty-two thousand men of the Syrians."
1 Chronicles 18:6
"Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went."
1 Chronicles 18:7
"David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem."
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