1 Chronicles 18 7

1 Chronicles 18:7 kjv

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 18:7 nkjv

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 18:7 niv

David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 18:7 esv

And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 18:7 nlt

David brought the gold shields of Hadadezer's officers to Jerusalem,

1 Chronicles 18 7 Cross References

VerseTextReference
1 Chron 18:3David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath...Context of Hadadezer's defeat.
2 Sam 8:7And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer...Parallel account in Samuel.
2 Sam 8:11-12King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold...David consecrating spoils to the LORD.
1 Chron 29:16O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided... is from Your hand...Acknowledgment that wealth comes from God.
Ex 12:35-36The Israelites had done what Moses told them... They plundered the Egyptians.God providing spoils from enemies.
Num 31:50-54So we have brought as an offering to the LORD what each man found...Spoils offered to the LORD after victory.
Josh 6:24...all the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron... were put into the treasury of the LORD's house.Consecration of spoils for sacred use.
1 Kgs 7:51When all the work... was completed, Solomon brought in the things his father David had dedicated...Solomon incorporating David's dedications for the temple.
Ps 44:3-7For by their own sword they did not gain possession of the land... but by Your right hand and Your arm...God granting victory, not human strength.
Ps 18:32-34It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way blameless...God empowering for battle and victory.
Prov 21:31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.Victory is from the LORD.
Zech 4:6Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.Divine enablement for accomplishments.
Deut 8:18But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth...God as the source of all prosperity.
Isa 60:6-7...all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD...Future Gentile nations bringing wealth to God.
Hag 2:8The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of hosts.God's sovereign ownership of all wealth.
1 Tim 6:17Command those who are rich in this present world... to put their hope in God...Proper stewardship of wealth.
Mt 6:19-21Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...Contrast of earthly vs. heavenly treasure.
Phil 4:19And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory...God's provision.
Rom 8:37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.Victory through Christ.
Rev 21:18The wall of New Jerusalem was built of jasper, and the city pure gold...Gold symbolizing divine glory in New Jerusalem.
Gen 24:35The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold...God's blessing evident in material prosperity.
Isa 2:3...For out of Zion will come forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.Jerusalem as center of divine authority and teaching.

1 Chronicles 18 verses

1 Chronicles 18 7 Meaning

This verse details David's acquisition of valuable golden shields from the defeated forces of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. These were evidently ceremonial or elite armaments carried by Hadadezer's high-ranking servants, symbolizing their king's power and wealth. David confiscated these precious spoils of war and transported them to Jerusalem, the burgeoning capital and spiritual center of Israel, signifying his triumph and the transfer of imperial wealth and glory to the kingdom of God.

1 Chronicles 18 7 Context

1 Chronicles 18 narrates a series of David's significant military campaigns and triumphs. Following his consolidation of power in Israel, David embarks on wars that fulfill earlier prophecies and expand the boundaries of the promised land. His victory over Hadadezer, king of Zobah (v. 3), is particularly important, as Zobah was a powerful Aramean kingdom. This chapter emphasizes that David's victories were not merely due to military prowess but were divinely ordained and empowered, establishing him as God's chosen king. The acquisition of wealth and precious metals, as seen in verse 7, is a recurring theme, often depicted as material tribute or spoils destined for the embellishment of God's future Temple in Jerusalem, aligning with the Chronicler's primary focus on the temple and the Davidic dynasty.

1 Chronicles 18 7 Word analysis

  • And David: Refers to King David, the central figure of these chapters. His actions here underscore his divinely appointed leadership and military effectiveness, emphasizing God's work through him.
  • took: (Heb. לָקַח, lāqaḥ) Denotes a deliberate act of seizure, acquisition, and possession. It's an active verb highlighting David's role in gathering the spoils, sanctioned by God.
  • the shields: (Heb. שִׁלְטֵי, shilṭê) Refers to large, ceremonial shields or perhaps round bucklers, more for display of status and wealth than primary combat. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such items conveyed power and royalty. Their collection by David signifies the transfer of such power.
  • of gold: (Heb. זָהָב, zāhāḇ) Emphasizes their immense value and preciousness. Gold often symbolizes purity, royalty, and divinity in the Bible. Its confiscation represents the divine transfer of the enemy's splendor and resources to God's kingdom. This also hints at the vast wealth accumulated by David that would later be used for the Temple.
  • that were on the servants of Hadadezer: Identifies the previous owners. "Servants" (עַבְדֵי, ʿaḇdê) here implies high-ranking officials or trusted warriors who carried these ceremonial items for the king, signifying their lord's prestige. Their loss to David underscores Hadadezer's complete subjugation.
  • and brought them: This verb denotes transportation and gathering. It is not just taking, but bringing to a specific destination.
  • to Jerusalem: The capital city of Israel and the future site of the Temple. Bringing these valuable spoils here emphasizes Jerusalem's central and holy significance. It indicates that the wealth gained through God's blessing was to be concentrated in His chosen city, implicitly for the greater glory and work of His kingdom.

Word-group analysis

  • David took the shields of gold: Highlights David's executive action in appropriating valuable assets from his defeated adversary. It speaks to the tangible rewards of God-given victory.
  • the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer: Provides precise detail on the type of valuable captured items and their source. This shows the scale of Hadadezer's royal wealth and pomp, now stripped away, underscoring the completeness of David's victory and God's humbling of prideful kings.
  • and brought them to Jerusalem: This action signifies the concentration of wealth in the divinely chosen capital, marking Jerusalem as the nexus of power and divine blessing, and often hinting at the future Temple building project for which such resources would be consecrated.

1 Chronicles 18 7 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s account often differs slightly from the parallel in 2 Samuel, generally to highlight David’s piety, the vast wealth amassed for the Temple, and God’s direct involvement in Israel’s history. While 2 Samuel 8:7 simply mentions the golden shields, the Chronicler consistently emphasizes the accumulation of wealth in connection to God's purpose, often linking it implicitly or explicitly to the future Temple project. The specific mention of "servants" carrying the shields suggests these were more than just ordinary battle equipment, but symbols of Hadadezer's elite status and personal entourage, making their capture even more significant as a trophy of complete victory. The gold from this victory, along with other spoils mentioned in the surrounding verses, would become foundational elements of the massive Temple treasuries, sanctified for God’s dwelling.

1 Chronicles 18 7 Commentary

1 Chronicles 18:7 succinctly describes David's appropriation of Hadadezer's ceremonial golden shields and their transport to Jerusalem. This act serves multiple theological and historical purposes. Firstly, it visually demonstrates God's favor and empowering presence with David, as he strips his enemies of their most ostentatious symbols of power and wealth. Secondly, it contributes to the larger narrative of David accumulating immense resources, primarily through spoils of war (as detailed later in 1 Chron 22 and 29), which were crucial for the eventual construction of the magnificent Temple by his son, Solomon. The transfer of such riches to Jerusalem underscores the city's growing importance as both the political and religious heart of the kingdom. It is a direct polemic against pagan deity worship, showcasing YHWH's absolute sovereignty by dismantling the wealth and prestige associated with enemy kings and redirecting it towards His chosen city and purposes.