1 CHRONICLES LESSON 21


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 18:1 "Now after this it
came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and
took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines."

     The Philistines were the continuing enemy of Israel. David had no
difficulty in his youth destroying the giant, Goliath, and he had no
difficulty in destroying the Philistines here. In both instances, God
strengthened David for the task. Gath is mentioned here, because it
was an unusually strong city. For God that meant nothing. Gath was
like the mother city. She and the cities around her fell.

     I Chronicles 18:2 "And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became
David's servants, [and] brought gifts."

     This is the battle where David measured them with a line. He
killed some of them, and kept the others alive. The gifts were,
probably, tribute they paid David. We are seeing, in the verses of
this lesson, a list of David's conquests.

     I Chronicles 18:3  "And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto
Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates."
I Chronicles 18:4 "And David took from him a thousand chariots, and
seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also
houghed all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them an hundred
chariots."

     We discussed in another lesson, that houghed means that he cut
their legs just behind the back of their hoofs so they could not walk.
Israel had not been a nation that depended upon chariots and horses.
In this battle, however, David does take 100 chariots. It appears in
this battle, as many others David was in, he took a large number of
captives, instead of killing them. Hadarezer, king of Zobah, was from
Syria. Zobah was north of Damascus. David established his kingdom with
the help of God.

     I Chronicles 18:5 "And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help
Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty
thousand men."

     This is a statement that the 22,000 men, they sent from Damascus
to help, were killed.

     I Chronicles 18:6 "Then David put [garrisons] in Syria-damascus;
and the Syrians became David's servants, [and] brought gifts. Thus the
LORD preserved David whithersoever he went."

     As we said earlier, David did not kill all of the enemies. He
took many as slaves. He left some, and collected tribute from them.
These garrisons were put in these areas to keep the people under
submission to David. The LORD was with David. He actually fought for
David.
     I Chronicles 18:7 "And David took the shields of gold that were
on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem."

     We can see, from this, the vast wealth of Zoba. It would be
extravagant to make shields of gold. Later we will find that Solomon
had shields of gold, as well.

     I Chronicles 18:8 "Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities
of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made
the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass."

     It appears, this land had much gold and brass. Brass symbolizes
judgement and was used in the brasen sea, just inside the temple. When
a person looked into the sea of glass, he was symbolically judged.

     I Chronicles 18:9  "Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David
had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;"  I Chronicles
18:10 "He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire of his
welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against
Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and
[with him] all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass."

     Hadoram is called Joram in another Scripture about this same
event. It seems, that Tou had, indeed, fought with Hadarezer. Tou had,
probably, lost and had been paying tribute to him. His gifts to David
were in appreciation for stopping the tyrant. These gifts were
generous.  This was a very wealthy land in the three metals: gold,
silver, and brass.

     I Chronicles 18:11  "Them also king David dedicated unto the
LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all [these]
nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and
from the Philistines, and from Amalek."

     When the temple was built by Solomon, it would take large amounts
of gold, silver, and brass. David would use much of the wealth, he
received from these countries, to build the things of the temple. Of
course, David would not build it, but his son. He would furnish much
of the wealth for it, however. There is a list of the lands that David
spoiled in the verse above.

     I Chronicles 18:12 "Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of
the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand."

     We mentioned that the valley of salt is by the Salt Sea, or the
Dead Sea. Abishai was in the service of David, when he did this act.
The 18,000 would have come close to total destruction for them.

     I Chronicles 18:13  "And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the
Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David
whithersoever he went."

     Edom was no different, in that they paid tribute to David, as
well. He put the garrisons and soldiers to watch over their activity,
and to make sure they paid their taxes.

     I Chronicles 18:14  "So David reigned over all Israel, and
executed judgment and justice among all his people."

     This had been the work of the judges in old. Now, the king was
also the one who meted out justice. Serious matters were brought
before the king for judgement. David was a good king. He was fair in
his judgements.

     I Chronicles 18:15 "And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the
host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder."

     Joab was over David's troops. The recorder was important, because
the Hebrews were very careful to keep records. The Hebrews kept
accurate historical records.

     I Chronicles 18:16 "And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech
the son of Abiathar, [were] the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;"

     Zadok was priest at the same time as Abiathar. From this verse
above, it seems that his son was the high priest. The scribe was
similar to a secretary of state. They had the important job of copying
Scriptures, as well. Shavsha was more of a civil scribe in government.

     I Chronicles 18:17 "And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was] over
the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David [were] chief
about the king."

     The Cherethites and the Pelethites had been Philistines. David
had conquered them, and made them part of his guard. David had many
sons by many wives and many sons by concubines, possibly, that are not
even mentioned. David's sons were princes.





















                      1 Chronicles 21 Questions


1.  In verse 1, David smote the _______________.
2.  What town did he take?
3.  Who were the continuing enemy of Israel?
4.  Who had David defeated in his youth?
5.  In verse 2, he smote _________.
6.  What did David do with those he did not kill?
7.  What were the gifts they gave David?
8.  Who was king of Zoba, when David smote them?
9.  How many horsemen did David take from him?
10. What did David do to the horses, except those for 100 chariots?
11. Where was Zoba?
12. Who came to help Zoba?
13. What happened to them?
14. Where did David put garrisons?
15. What did David take, that were on the servants?
16. Solomon made the brasen sea with what?
17. Why was Tou happy about David winning over Zoba?
18. Why did he send his son to David?
19. What gifts did he take to David?
20. David used much of this wealth for what?
21. How many did Abishai kill of the Edomites at the valley of salt?
22. Where is the valley of salt located?
23. What happened to the Edomites?
24. David executed ________ and __________ among all his people.
25. Who was over the host?
26. Why was the recorder important?
27. Who were the priests?
28. The scribe was similar to the _______ of ________.
29. Who were the Cherethites, and the Pelethites?
30. What were David's sons?