1 Chronicles 18:13 kjv
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:13 nkjv
He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:13 niv
He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:13 esv
Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18:13 nlt
He placed army garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. In fact, the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
1 Chronicles 18 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 8:14 | "And he put garrisons in Edom... and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD gave David victory wherever he went." | Parallel passage, emphasizing divine favor. |
| 1 Chr 18:6 | "And the LORD preserved David wherever he went." | Repeats the theme of constant divine protection for David in the chapter. |
| Gen 25:23 | "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you... the older shall serve the younger." | Prophecy of Esau's descendants (Edom) serving Jacob's descendants (Israel). |
| Num 24:18 | "Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession..." | Balaam's prophecy concerning Edom's future subjugation by Israel. |
| 1 Chr 17:8 | "And I have been with you wherever you have gone..." | God's promise to David of continuous presence and support. |
| 2 Sam 7:9 | "And I will be with you wherever you go..." | God's covenant promise of his enduring presence and blessing for David. |
| Psa 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." | Emphasizes reliance on God, not military might, for victory. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | "The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation..." | Reinforces that human strength is insufficient; God alone grants victory. |
| Psa 44:5 | "Through you we push down our foes; in your name we tread down those who rise up against us." | Attributing military success directly to God's power. |
| Josh 10:42 | "...for the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel." | Exemplifies God's direct intervention in Israel's battles. |
| Judg 7:2 | "...Lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’" | God reduces forces to ensure that victory is attributed to Him. |
| Ex 14:13 | "...and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today..." | God's act of salvation/deliverance on behalf of His people. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear." | David's testimony that God gives victory through unconventional means. |
| Psa 18:30 | "As for God, his way is perfect... he is a shield for all who take refuge in him." | Describes God's perfection and His role as a protector. |
| Oba 1:10 | "Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you..." | Edom's downfall attributed to their betrayal and animosity towards Israel. |
| Mal 1:3 | "but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a desolation..." | God's prophetic judgment against Edom for their ongoing hostility. |
| Rom 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." | Spiritual parallel: Believers' ultimate victory through Christ. |
| 1 Cor 15:57 | "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Spiritual victory, especially over death, through Christ. |
| 2 Cor 2:14 | "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ..." | God's continuous leadership of believers in spiritual victory. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | Spiritual strength and capability derived from Christ. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Christ's definitive spiritual victory over hostile powers. |
1 Chronicles 18 verses
1 Chronicles 18 13 Meaning
This verse details David's complete military and political dominance over Edom, establishing garrisons to control the territory, resulting in the Edomites becoming his subjugated servants. Crucially, the verse attributes this triumph not to David's might alone, but unequivocally to the continuous, pervasive favor of the LORD, who granted victory to David in every campaign he undertook.
1 Chronicles 18 13 Context
1 Chronicles 18 belongs to a section detailing David's military successes and the expansion of his kingdom, serving as a testament to God's covenant faithfulness. Following the account of God's promise to David (1 Chr 17), this chapter chronicles how David subjugated key surrounding nations – the Philistines, Moab, Zobah, Syria (Aram), and here, Edom. Historically, Edom was a long-standing rival of Israel, located south-east of Judah, often contesting trade routes and territorial claims. David's conquest of Edom, similar to other victories, symbolizes the fulfillment of prophetic statements regarding Israel's dominion and divine favor. The Chronicler highlights these conquests to underscore David's divine mandate and prepare the narrative for the temple building.
1 Chronicles 18 13 Word analysis
- And he put: From the Hebrew
וַיָּשֶׂם(vayyasem), rootשׂוּם(sum) - "to set, place, appoint." This indicates David's decisive action and direct military strategy in occupying and establishing control. - garrisons: Hebrew
נְצִיבִים(netzivim), plural ofנְצִיב(natsiv) - "appointed official," "pillar," or "garrison." This term signifies military posts and appointed governors, reflecting a comprehensive administrative and military subjugation of Edom, not just a one-time defeat. It suggests permanent occupation to enforce submission and collect tribute. - in Edom: Hebrew
בֶּאֱדוֹם(be'edom). Edom (אֱדוֹם), located south-east of Judah, descended from Esau. Its subjugation was highly significant due to its ancestral relation to Israel and its historical antagonism, representing a major strategic victory for David. - and all the Edomites: Hebrew
וַיְהִי כָּל-אֱדוֹם(vayhi kol-edom). "And it was that all Edom" implies a complete and widespread surrender, encompassing the entire nation, leaving no pocket of resistance. - became David’s servants: Hebrew
עֲבָדִים לְדָוִיד(avadim le'david). "Servants" (עֲבָדִים) denotes a state of subservience and tribute-paying, marking their vassal status. This fulfillment of earlier prophecies (Gen 25:23; Num 24:18) confirms David's role in God's redemptive plan. - And the LORD gave victory: Hebrew
וַיֹּשַׁע יְהוָה(vayoshia YHWH).וַיֹּשַׁע(vayoshia) is from the rootיָשַׁע(yasha) meaning "to save, deliver, give victory." This phrase is the theological linchpin of the verse and chapter. It decisively attributes David's success not to human strength or tactical brilliance but to the direct, saving action of Yahweh (יְהוָה), the covenant God of Israel. - to David: Hebrew
אֶת-דָּוִיד(et-david). David is the recipient of divine favor and victory, acting as God's chosen instrument. - wherever he went: Hebrew
בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלָךְ(bekol asher halakh). This universal qualifier ("in all that he went/where he walked") emphasizes the consistency and totality of God's empowering presence. It wasn't just a singular act of divine aid, but an overarching, unfailing provision for all of David's undertakings, underscoring God's constant watchfulness and support over his chosen king.
Word-group by words-group analysis
- "And he put garrisons in Edom": This phrase details David's effective military occupation, a tangible expression of conquest. It signifies the physical presence of Israeli control, ensuring the long-term subjugation and administration of the territory.
- "and all the Edomites became David’s servants": This clause highlights the socio-political consequence of the military victory: the complete transformation of an enemy nation into a subordinate, tributary state. It speaks to the comprehensive nature of the defeat and the establishment of David's authority.
- "And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went": This crucial declaration provides the theological lens for interpreting all David's achievements. It elevates the entire chapter's narrative of conquest from mere historical record to a testimony of divine faithfulness and intervention. It asserts God's consistent empowerment of David, confirming that David's successful reign was divinely orchestrated. This continuous divine favor signifies God's fulfillment of His covenant promises to David and to Israel through him.
1 Chronicles 18 13 Bonus section
- Chronicler's Emphasis: The Chronicler's primary purpose is to emphasize David's legitimacy, the Davidic covenant, and the importance of Yahweh worship. This verse perfectly serves that purpose by crediting all military success to the LORD. This distinguishes the Chronicler's account from 2 Samuel 8, which mentions the victories but is more succinct about the theological attribution.
- Significance of Edom's Fall: Edom's conquest held significant strategic and symbolic weight. Strategically, it secured Israel's southern flank and gave access to trade routes (e.g., to the Red Sea via Ezion-Geber). Symbolically, it was the subjugation of "the older brother" (Esau's descendants), fulfilling ancient patriarchal prophecies and underscoring God's divine ordering of nations in favor of His chosen people, Israel.
- Preparation for Temple Building: The peace and wealth accumulated from these comprehensive military campaigns, including the subjugation of Edom, provided the stability and resources necessary for David's ultimate goal: the preparation for building the Temple (seen in subsequent chapters), which the Chronicler is intensely focused on.
1 Chronicles 18 13 Commentary
1 Chronicles 18:13 concisely summarizes a pivotal achievement in David's reign: the subjugation of Edom, a perennial enemy. While acknowledging David's direct actions in establishing military control, the Chronicler's core message resides in the profound theological declaration that "the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went." This consistent refrain throughout Chapter 18 shifts the focus from David's prowess to God's unwavering faithfulness. The victory over Edom was not merely a territorial gain but the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and God's covenant promises, reinforcing David's legitimacy and the divine mandate behind Israel's expansion. The continuous nature of God's aid ("wherever he went") illustrates His omniscient care and providential hand over His chosen king and nation. This served as an important theological lesson for the post-exilic audience, reminding them of God's sovereignty over earthly powers and His commitment to His people when they walk in obedience.