1 Chronicles 18 8

1 Chronicles 18:8 kjv

Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

1 Chronicles 18:8 nkjv

Also from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

1 Chronicles 18:8 niv

From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.

1 Chronicles 18:8 esv

And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.

1 Chronicles 18:8 nlt

along with a large amount of bronze from Hadadezer's towns of Tebah and Cun. Later Solomon melted the bronze and molded it into the great bronze basin called the Sea, the pillars, and the various bronze articles used at the Temple.

1 Chronicles 18 verses

1 Chronicles 18 8 Meaning

1 Chronicles 18:8 details David's acquisition of a significant quantity of bronze from the defeated cities of Hadadezer, king of Zobah. This large supply of bronze was then purposed for the construction of key furnishings in the future Temple by David's son, Solomon, including the bronze sea, the pillars, and other bronze vessels, highlighting divine provision for God's house through victory.

1 Chronicles 18 8 Context

This verse is situated within 1 Chronicles chapter 18, which describes King David's decisive victories over various surrounding nations, extending the borders of his kingdom according to God's promises. Specifically, it follows David's triumph over Hadadezer, the king of Zobah, a powerful Aramean kingdom north of Damascus. David had captured Hadadezer's chariots, disabling a significant portion of his forces, and received tribute from other kingdoms that recognized David's expanding dominion. The Chronicler emphasizes not merely the military success, but the purpose behind it: the acquisition of resources that would be devoted to the future construction of the Lord's Temple. This chapter solidifies David's status as a formidable warrior-king who also acted as God's instrument for preparing the ground, materially and politically, for the sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 18 8 Word analysis

• From Tibhath and from Chun: These are specific locations within Hadadezer's kingdom from which David took the bronze. In the parallel account (2 Sam 8:8), the cities are named "Betah and Berothai," which likely refers to the same places, possibly by different names or scribal variants. These were key centers for bronze work or collection within the conquered territory, signifying strategic importance.
• cities of Hadadezer: Hadadezer (Hebrew: הֲדַדְעֶזֶר, Hadad‘ezer), meaning "Hadad is help," was a powerful Aramean king of Zobah. Hadad was a prominent Syrian storm god, indicating Hadadezer's reliance on a false deity. David's victory over him was thus a demonstration of Yahweh's supreme power over pagan gods and human might.
• David took: This highlights David's direct action in collecting the spoils of war. It wasn't found accidentally but was a deliberate acquisition by the victorious king, indicating his control over the conquered resources. This act aligns with the ancient practice of collecting tribute and plunder from defeated foes.
• a large amount of bronze: (Hebrew: נְחֹשֶׁת, nechosheth) signifies both the abundance of the material and its value. Bronze was a crucial metal in the ancient world, used for tools, weapons, and sacred objects. The "large amount" underscores the magnitude of Hadadezer's resources and the scale of the Temple project to come. In biblical symbolism, bronze often represents strength, durability, and sometimes judgment or purification.
• with which Solomon made: This phrase establishes a direct connection and continuity between David's military campaigns and Solomon's peaceful building of the Temple. David, the warrior, acquired the resources; Solomon, the king of peace, utilized them for the house of the Lord. This demonstrates God's long-term plan and provision through different instruments.
• the bronze sea: (Hebrew: יָם, yam – meaning "sea" or "large basin") refers to the large molten basin, sometimes called the "Molten Sea," located in the Temple courtyard. It was used by the priests for ceremonial washings and purification before ministering. Its size (ten cubits in diameter) signified its monumental scale.
• and the pillars: (Hebrew: עַמּוּדִים, ammudim) refers to the two grand bronze pillars, named Jachin ("He will establish") and Boaz ("In Him is strength"), that stood prominently at the entrance of the Temple. These were not structural but symbolic, representing God's commitment to establish His dwelling and give strength to His people and kingdom. Their symbolic names were a powerful theological statement about Yahweh.
• and the bronze vessels: This refers to the numerous other instruments, tools, and utensils made of bronze that were used for the Temple's sacrificial system and daily operations, such as altars, lavers on wheels, pots, shovels, and bowls. Their mention emphasizes the complete furnishing of God's sanctuary.

1 Chronicles 18 8 Bonus section

The chronicler's account here, compared to the parallel in 2 Samuel 8:8, shows a slight variation in the names of the cities (Tibhath and Chun vs. Betah and Berothai). This is not uncommon in ancient texts and may reflect different local names for the same places, or perhaps slight textual transmission variations, but does not alter the core historical fact or theological meaning. The emphasis in Chronicles is strongly on the Temple; thus, even David's conquests are presented through the lens of preparing for Solomon's sacred building project. This verse highlights the Old Testament principle that God provides for His work through His people, often in ways that integrate the material realities of their world into the divine plan. The vast quantity of bronze signifies both the wealth of the subdued nations and the future grandeur and permanence of the Jerusalem Temple.

1 Chronicles 18 8 Commentary

1 Chronicles 18:8 powerfully illustrates the providence of God in the establishment of His house. David's victories were not merely for personal gain or national expansion, but directly served a divine purpose: the accumulation of necessary materials for the magnificent Temple to be built by Solomon. The transformation of plunder from a pagan king, Hadadezer, whose very name glorified a false god, into sacred furnishings for the worship of Yahweh, underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and resources. The bronze, acquired through war, was consecrated for peace and worship, showcasing how even the seemingly mundane or profane can be redeemed and dedicated for God's glory. This verse is central to the Chronicler's theme of David as the provident king who meticulously prepared for the Temple, highlighting the spiritual significance of even military actions within God's larger redemptive plan.