1 Chronicles 18:2 kjv
And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
1 Chronicles 18:2 nkjv
Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought tribute.
1 Chronicles 18:2 niv
David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.
1 Chronicles 18:2 esv
And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
1 Chronicles 18:2 nlt
David also conquered the land of Moab, and the Moabites who were spared became David's subjects and paid him tribute money.
1 Chronicles 18 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Parallel Accounts & General Victory | ||
| 2 Sam 8:2 | "He defeated Moab and measured them with a line...So the Moabites became subjects and brought tribute." | Parallel account of Moab's defeat and subjugation. |
| Ps 18:37-40 | "I pursued my enemies and overtook them...You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow..." | David's poetic reflection on God granting victory. |
| Ps 144:10 | "Who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the deadly sword." | God is the source of victory for His chosen servant. |
| The LORD Grants Victory & Fights for Israel | ||
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." | God's presence and action in battles. |
| Josh 23:10 | "One man of you puts to flight a thousand, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as He promised you." | God actively fights for His people. |
| Judg 4:15 | "And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak." | Divine defeat of Israel's enemies. |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand." | A declaration that victory comes from God, not human might. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | "For the battle is not yours but God’s." | Reiterates divine ownership and control of war. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | "The king is not saved by a mighty army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength...a horse is a vain hope for salvation." | Human strength is insufficient for victory; only God delivers. |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD." | All preparation is secondary to God's ultimate say in victory. |
| Isa 41:10 | "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you..." | God promises constant help and empowerment. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." | New Testament affirmation of divine enablement. |
| Conquest, Dominion & Tribute as Fulfillment | ||
| Gen 15:18 | "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram...to your offspring I give this land..." | Beginnings of the land promise being fulfilled through expansion. |
| Num 24:17-19 | "A scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the foreheads of Moab...Israel shall do valiantly." | Balaam's prophecy predicting Israel's triumph over Moab. |
| 1 Ki 4:21 | "Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River...They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life." | Continuation and solidification of Israel's dominion, building on David's conquests. |
| 2 Ki 3:4-5 | "Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he had to pay tribute to the king of Israel...But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled." | Historical instance of Moab paying tribute to Israel, later rebelling. |
| Ps 60:8 | "Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph." | Poetic expression of God's dominion over surrounding nations. |
| Zech 14:16 | "Then everyone who survives of all the nations...shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths." | Future prophecy of nations submitting to the King. |
| Rom 13:6-7 | "For this is why you also pay taxes, for they are God's servants, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed..." | Authority structure where tribute/taxes acknowledge legitimate rule. |
| Davidic Covenant & Blessing | ||
| 2 Sam 7:9 | "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you..." | God's prior promise of constant presence and victory for David. |
| 1 Chr 17:8 | "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you..." | The immediate context; God's reaffirmation of His powerful presence with David. |
1 Chronicles 18 verses
1 Chronicles 18 2 Meaning
1 Chronicles 18:2 describes David's decisive military campaign against Moab, resulting in their complete subjugation. The verse details that the Moabites became David’s servants, obliged to pay him tribute. The primary emphasis of the verse, especially for the Chronicler, is not merely on David's military prowess but on the active intervention of the LORD, who granted David victory in every one of his campaigns, affirming divine favor and fulfillment of His promises.
1 Chronicles 18 2 Context
This verse initiates the Chronicler's detailed account of David's extensive military campaigns (1 Chronicles 18-20). It immediately follows the profound divine covenant promise to David in 1 Chronicles 17, where God guarantees an enduring dynasty, a perpetual throne, and His continuous presence with David. The defeat of Moab, therefore, serves as the first tangible demonstration of God's faithfulness to this covenant, showing Him actively fulfilling His promise to establish David's kingdom and cut off his enemies. Historically, Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, had a long, often adversarial relationship with Israel (despite David's ancestor Ruth being a Moabite). David's subjugation of Moab here marks a significant expansion of Israel's influence and control, reinforcing the growing regional power promised to Israel through Abraham.
1 Chronicles 18 2 Word analysis
- "And he struck" (וַיַּךְ, wayyak): Derived from the Hebrew verb נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to smite," "strike," "hit," or "beat down." In military contexts, as here, it signifies a decisive and often destructive defeat or subjugation. It implies a comprehensive military victory rather than just a minor engagement, leading directly to the opponent's loss of autonomy.
- "Moab" (מוֹאָב, Mo'av): Refers to the people and land situated east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot (Gen 19:37). They frequently interacted, both peacefully and conflictually, with Israel throughout their history (e.g., Num 22-25, Judg 3, 1 Sam 14). This victory highlights the expansion of David's kingdom into key historical territories that were often antagonistic towards Israel.
- "and the Moabites became David’s servants" (וַיִּהְיוּ לְדָוִיד לַעֲבָדִים, vayihyu l'david la'avadim): This phrase describes the consequence of David's victory: subjugation. "Servants" (עֲבָדִים, avadim) in this context signifies a relationship of vassalage, where Moab lost its independence and was subject to David's rule, obligated to follow his commands and policies. This was a common outcome for defeated nations in the ancient Near East.
- "and brought tribute" (וַיִּשְׂאוּ מִנְחָה, vayis'u minchah): "Tribute" (מִנְחָה, minchah) denotes regular payments, usually of goods or money, offered by a subservient state to its conquering overlord. This action served as a tangible acknowledgment of David's sovereignty and their subjugated status. It highlights the economic as well as political dominance David established, benefiting Israel's treasury.
- "And the LORD gave victory" (וַיּוֹשַׁע יְהוָה, vayyosh'a YHVH): This is the crucial theological statement of the verse. "The LORD" (יְהוָה, YHVH) emphasizes the personal, covenant God of Israel as the true agent behind David's successes. "Gave victory" is from the verb יָשַׁע (yasha), meaning "to save," "to deliver," or "to grant victory." The Hifil form here indicates direct causation by God, meaning He enabled or brought about the victory, rather than it being solely David's own military might. This clarifies that David's triumphs were divinely ordained and empowered.
- "to David wherever he went" (לְדָוִיד בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר הָלָךְ, l'david b'chol asher halakh): This concluding phrase emphasizes the consistent and comprehensive nature of God's favor and presence with David. It suggests that divine aid was not confined to this single battle but accompanied David throughout all his campaigns and undertakings, ensuring his pervasive success. This reiterates the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to David to be with him and establish his kingdom.
1 Chronicles 18 2 Bonus section
The Chronicler's account in 1 Chronicles 18:2 is notably more concise regarding the defeat of Moab than its parallel in 2 Samuel 8:2, which includes the detail of David making the Moabites lie on the ground and executing two-thirds with a measuring line. This omission highlights the Chronicler's distinctive theological focus. Instead of dwelling on the precise, possibly more severe, details of military retribution, 1 Chronicles foregrounds the theological significance: the source of David's victory is solely the LORD. This consistent divine favor, "wherever he went," undergirds the Chronicler's broader theme of God's unreserved support for David and his dynasty, setting the theological framework for the kingdom's prosperity and the ultimate establishment of the temple worship. The recurring phrase "wherever he went" serves as a narrative thread throughout David's conquests in Chapters 18-20, continually attributing all success to God's hand.
1 Chronicles 18 2 Commentary
1 Chronicles 18:2 presents David's subjugation of Moab not as a mere military achievement but as a direct manifestation of God's covenant faithfulness and empowering presence. The Chronicler, writing with a theological lens, immediately credits the LORD for David's universal success, emphasizing that victory in every endeavor was divinely granted. This portrayal contrasts with solely human-centric views of power, asserting that YHWH is the ultimate source of strength and the one who establishes kings and their kingdoms. The defeat of Moab is a prime example, fulfilling ancient prophecies regarding Israel's dominance over its neighbors and solidifying David's authority. This foundational victory sets the stage for David's further territorial expansion and serves as a testament to God's unwavering support for His anointed king, essential for the secure establishment of the kingdom and preparation for the Temple.
- Example 1: Just as God gave David consistent victory, believers facing spiritual battles or life's challenges can find strength and ultimate triumph not in their own might but through divine empowerment (Eph 6:10).
- Example 2: In times of mission or service, knowing that the Lord grants "victory wherever you go" inspires confidence, reminding us that success is dependent on His presence and purpose, not just human effort (Zech 4:6).