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God’s Agreement with David

17 Now when David lived in his house, he said to Nathan the special preacher, “See, I am living in a house of cedar wood. But the special box with the Law of the Lord is under a tent.” Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart. For God is with you.” But that same night the Word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says. “You will not build a house for Me to live in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day. But I have gone from tent to tent and from one place to another to live. In all the places I have gone with all Israel, have I said a word to any of the judges of Israel about this? Have I said to anyone whom I told to watch over My people, ‘Why have you not built a house of cedar wood for Me?’”’ So now say to My servant David, ‘The Lord of All says, “I took you from the field, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel. I have been with you in every place you have gone. I have destroyed in front of you all those who hate you. And I will make your name to be known like the name of the great ones of the earth. I will choose a place for My people Israel, and will plant them. So they will live in their own place and not be moved again. Never again will they be under the power of sinful men, as they were before, 10 from the time that I told judges to rule My people Israel. I will put under your power all those who hate you. And I say to you that the Lord will build a house for you. 11 When your days are over, the time will come when you must go to be with your fathers. But then I will put into power one of your sons after you. I will make him king. 12 He will build a house for Me. And I will make his throne last forever. 13 I will be his father, and he will be My son. I will not take My loving-kindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you. 14 But I will put him over My house and in My nation forever. And his throne will last forever.”’” 15 Nathan told David all these words from all this special dream.

David’s Prayer of Thanks

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O God? What is my house, that You have brought me this far? 17 This was a small thing in Your eyes, O God. You have spoken of Your servant’s house for a long time to come. You have thought of me as if I were an important man, O Lord God. 18 What more can David say to You about the honor given to Your servant? For You know Your servant. 19 You have made all this greatness, O Lord. You have made known all these great things, for Your servant, and by Your own heart. 20 O Lord, there is no one like You. There is no God other than You, by all that we have heard with our ears. 21 What other nation on earth is like Your people Israel? God went to free them to be His people. You made Yourself a name by great things which filled people with fear. You drove out the nations before Your people, whom You set free from Egypt. 22 You made Your people Israel to be Your people forever. And You, O Lord, became their God. 23 Now, O Lord, let the Word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house be made sure forever. Do as You have said. 24 Let Your name be made sure and honored forever, saying, ‘The Lord of All, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God. And the house of Your servant David is made to last before You.’ 25 For You, O my God, have made it known to Your servant that You will build a house for him. So Your servant has found strength of heart to pray to You. 26 And now, O Lord, You are God. You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 27 Now it has pleased You to bring good to the house of Your servant. May it last forever before You. For when You bring good to something, O Lord, good is with it forever.”

David’s Battles

18 After this David won the war against the Philistines and put them under his power. He took Gath and its towns from the Philistines. He won the war against Moab. And the Moabites were made to work for David, bringing taxes to him. David won the war against King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to bring his power to the Euphrates River. David took from him 1,000 war-wagons, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And he cut the legs of all but 100 war-wagon horses.

The Syrians of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah. But David killed 22,000 of the Syrian men. Then David put soldiers in Syria of Damascus. And the Syrians became servants to David, paying taxes. The Lord helped David in every place he went. David took the battle-coverings of gold which were carried by Hadadezer’s servants, and brought them to Jerusalem. He took a very large amount of brass from Hadadezer’s cities, Tibhath and Cun. This was the brass Solomon used to make the brass pool, the pillars, and the brass pots.

King Tou of Hamath heard that David had won the war against all the army of King Hadadezer of Zobah. 10 So he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and give honor to him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and won. For Hadadezer had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of things of gold and silver and brass. 11 King David set these apart to the Lord, with the silver and gold he had carried away from all the nations. He took things from Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

12 Abishai the son of Zeruiah won the war from 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 Then he put soldiers in Edom. And the Edomites became servants to David. The Lord helped David every place he went.

14 So David ruled over all Israel. He did what was fair and right and good for all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was captain of the army. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud wrote down the things of the nation. 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were religious leaders. Shavsha was the one who writes everything down. 17 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And the sons of David were leaders at the king’s side.

David Wins over the Ammonites and Syrians

19 After this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died. And his son became king in his place. David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent men to bring him comfort in his sorrow for his father. David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the sons of Ammon, to bring him comfort. But the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David is giving honor to your father by sending men to comfort you? Have not his servants come to spy out the land and destroy it?” So Hanun took David’s servants and cut the hair from their faces. Then he cut off the bottom half of their clothing, and sent them away. When David was told what had happened to his servants, he sent men out to meet them because the workmen were very ashamed. The king said, “Stay at Jericho until the hair grows again on your faces, and then return.”

The sons of Ammon saw that they had made themselves to be hated by David. So Hanun and the sons of Ammon sent silver weighing as much as 1,000 men, to get war-wagons and horsemen from Mesopotamia, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. They paid for 32,000 war-wagons and for the king of Maacah and his army who came and set up their tents by Medeba. Then the sons of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of his strong men. The sons of Ammon came out and were ready for battle at the city gate. The kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

10 Joab saw that the battle was set against him in front and behind. So he chose some of the best men of Israel and they made themselves ready to fight the Syrians. 11 But he had his brother Abishai lead the rest of the men. And they made themselves ready to fight the sons of Ammon. 12 Joab said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then help me. But if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be strong; let us show our strength of heart because of our people, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord do what is good in His eyes.” 14 So Joab and the men who were with him came near to fight against the Syrians. And the Syrians ran away from him. 15 The sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians ran away. So they ran away from Joab’s brother Abishai, and went into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

16 The Syrians saw that they had lost the war with Israel. So they sent men with news, and brought out the Syrians who were on the other side of the Euphrates River. Shophach the captain of Hadadezer’s army was leading them. 17 When David was told about it, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan. He came to them, and made his army ready to fight against them. When David made his army ready for battle, the Syrians fought against him. 18 And the Syrians ran away from Israel. David killed 7,000 Syrians who drove war-wagons and 40,000 Syrian foot soldiers. And he killed Shophach the captain of the army. 19 Hadadezer’s servants saw that they had lost the war against Israel. So they made peace with David and worked for him. The Syrians were not willing to help the sons of Ammon any more.

God’s Promise to David(A)

17 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.(B)

Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind,(C) do it, for God is with you.”

But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You(D) are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders[a] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?(E)”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler(F) over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders(G) over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build(H) a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.(I) 13 I will be his father,(J) and he will be my son.(K) I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne(L) will be established forever.(M)’”

15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(N)

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 Lord. For the sake(O) of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.(P)

20 “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you,(Q) as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem(R) a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever,(S) and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, Lord, let the promise(T) you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

25 “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26 You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight;(U) for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

David’s Victories(V)

18 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

David also defeated the Moabites,(W) and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah,(X) in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at[b] the Euphrates River.(Y) David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung(Z) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

When the Arameans of Damascus(AA) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah[c] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea,(AB) the pillars and various bronze articles.

When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom(AC) and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.(AD)

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites(AE) in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials(AF)

14 David reigned(AG) over all Israel,(AH) doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab(AI) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok(AJ) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[d](AK) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;(AL) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

David Defeats the Ammonites(AM)

19 In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites(AN) died, and his son succeeded him as king. David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out(AO) the country and overthrow it?” So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

When someone came and told David about the men, he sent messengers to meet them, for they were greatly humiliated. The king said, “Stay at Jericho till your beards have grown, and then come back.”

When the Ammonites realized that they had become obnoxious(AP) to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents[e] of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim,[f] Aram Maakah and Zobah.(AQ) They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and charioteers, as well as the king of Maakah with his troops, who came and camped near Medeba,(AR) while the Ammonites were mustered from their towns and moved out for battle.

On hearing this, David sent Joab out with the entire army of fighting men. The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.

10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai(AS) his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 Joab said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will rescue you. 13 Be strong, and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in his sight.”

14 Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 15 When the Ammonites realized that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.

16 After the Arameans saw that they had been routed by Israel, they sent messengers and had Arameans brought from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them.

17 When David was told of this, he gathered all Israel(AT) and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. 18 But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.

19 When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.

So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:6 Traditionally judges; also in verse 10
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or to restore his control over
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Hebrew Tibhath, a variant of Tebah
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek
  5. 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  6. 1 Chronicles 19:6 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia