1 Chronicles 19 18

1 Chronicles 19:18 kjv

But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

1 Chronicles 19:18 nkjv

Then the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians, and killed Shophach the commander of the army.

1 Chronicles 19:18 niv

But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army.

1 Chronicles 19:18 esv

And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000 foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their army.

1 Chronicles 19:18 nlt

But again the Arameans fled from the Israelites. This time David's forces killed 7,000 charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers, including Shobach, the commander of their army.

1 Chronicles 19 verses

1 Chronicles 19 18 Meaning

First Chronicles 19:18 records a decisive military victory for King David and Israel over the Arameans, who had allied themselves with the Ammonites. Following an initial engagement, the Arameans, led by their commander Shophach, regrouped for a major confrontation, only to suffer a catastrophic defeat. The verse details the substantial number of Aramean casualties: seven thousand chariot teams and forty thousand footmen slain, with their general, Shophach, also killed. This overwhelming defeat led to the subjugation of the Aramean states to David's kingdom.

1 Chronicles 19 18 Context

First Chronicles 19 follows David's efforts to show kindness to Hanun, the new king of Ammon, for his father Nahash's prior kindness to David. However, Hanun, misinformed by his advisors, humiliated David's envoys. This grave insult escalated into a full-scale war (1 Chr 19:1-5). The Ammonites then hired mercenary Aramean forces from various regions, including Beth-rehob, Zobah, Maacah, and Zobah, for an initial clash (1 Chr 19:6-7). David dispatched Joab and his army, who initially drove back the Arameans (1 Chr 19:8-15).

In response, Hadadezer, the most powerful Aramean king, gathered reinforcements, led by Shophach (1 Chr 19:16). This formidable assembly prompted David himself to gather all Israel and confront the Arameans (1 Chr 19:17). Verse 18 then describes the decisive defeat David inflicted upon this Aramean coalition. This victory was crucial for securing Israel's borders and demonstrating David's dominion, solidifying his kingdom as God's instrument in the region. The Chronicler emphasizes God's hand in granting David victory over such powerful foes, reinforcing the themes of divine favour for righteous kings and the triumph of God's chosen people.

1 Chronicles 19 18 Word analysis

• And the Arameans (וְאֲרַמִּים - ve'Arammim): Refers to the people of Aram or Syria, an ethnolinguistic group of Semitic nomadic people and several historical kingdoms located in the Middle East. They were frequent adversaries of Israel during the monarchical period. Their significant power is demonstrated by their ability to field large armies and influence regional conflicts.
• fled (נָסוּ - nasu): Implying a panicked, complete retreat. It underscores the decisive nature of the Israeli victory and the rout of the enemy, not merely a strategic withdrawal.
• before Israel (מִפְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - mippĕney Yisrael): Signifies that the flight was directly from the face of Israel's advance. This emphasizes God's presence with Israel, making them formidable. It implies God was fighting for Israel.
• and David slew (וַיַּהֲרֹג דָּוִיד - vayyaharog David): Directly attributes the victory to King David, God's chosen leader. This active verb highlights his decisive role in the battle, acting as God's instrument.
• of the Arameans (בַּאֲרַמִּים - ba'Arammim): Again specifying the defeated enemy, ensuring clarity that this was the core force opposing David.
• seven thousand chariot teams (שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים רֶכֶב - shiv'at alafim rekhev): The term rekhev here can refer to chariots themselves or to groups associated with chariots, such as drivers and fighters. In parallel text 2 Samuel 10:18, it is "seven hundred chariots." The difference between "seven hundred" and "seven thousand" and the interpretation of "chariot teams" is a significant textual discussion point. It may represent a larger contingent (teams including support personnel), a variant tradition, or an intentional magnification by the Chronicler to emphasize the grandeur of God's victory through David. It signifies a major defeat of the enemy's most potent military force.
• and forty thousand footmen (וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף רַגְלִי - ve'arba'im elef ragli): Ragli means "footman" or "infantry." In 2 Samuel 10:18, the parallel mentions "forty thousand horsemen" (parashim). This difference highlights either that David engaged different types of units or that the Chronicler presents the battle casualties from a different perspective, focusing on the ground troops who made up the bulk of most armies. Both texts record the same large number of casualties, indicating a comprehensive military disaster for the Arameans.
• and killed Shophach (וְאֵת שׁוֹפַךְ הָרַג - ve'et Shophach harag): The killing of the commander is crucial. His death symbolizes the utter collapse of the enemy's leadership and the complete disarray of their forces. In 2 Samuel 10:18, the commander is named Shobach. The variation in spelling (פ/ב, peh/beth) is common in Hebrew due to similar sounds, and does not alter the identity of the person.
• the commander of their army (שַׂר צְבָאָם - sar tsĕva'am): Identifies Shophach as the head of the entire Aramean military force assembled for battle. His death ensured the complete victory and the submission of the remaining Arameans.

1 Chronicles 19 18 Bonus section

• The military campaign described in 1 Chronicles 19, culminating in verse 18, had profound geopolitical consequences. The subsequent submission of Hadadezer's Aramean allies meant that David no longer faced a major threat from his northeastern borders, significantly expanding Israel's sphere of influence and securing trade routes.
• The Chronicler's choice to emphasize the comprehensive nature of the victory and potentially use larger numbers serves his broader theological purpose: to highlight the faithfulness of God to His covenant with David, the legitimacy and glory of the Davidic dynasty, and the blessings that flow from obedience to God. The Chronicler's audience, often post-exilic, would find comfort and hope in these narratives of divine intervention and strong leadership.
• While 2 Samuel gives a more comprehensive account of David's life, including his struggles and failures, Chronicles often presents an idealized portrait of David. This selective retelling emphasizes the positive aspects of his reign, particularly his successes in battle where God was clearly on his side. This particular verse exemplifies the Chronicler's focus on God's victorious hand in empowering David's army.

1 Chronicles 19 18 Commentary

First Chronicles 19:18 captures the climax of a significant regional conflict in David's reign. After suffering a partial defeat, the Arameans consolidated their forces under their highest-ranking general, Shophach, setting the stage for a decisive encounter with David himself. The verse powerfully records the result: a total route of the Aramean army.

The discrepancy in numbers and classification of casualties between this verse ("seven thousand chariot teams and forty thousand footmen") and its parallel in 2 Samuel 10:18 ("seven hundred chariots and forty thousand horsemen") is a recurring point of scholarly discussion. While some theories suggest scribal variations or different ways of counting, the Chronicler's general tendency to magnify the glorious aspects of David's reign is notable. Whether 700 or 7,000, the defeat of the Aramean chariot forces was monumental, as chariots represented the elite military technology of the ancient world. The emphasis on "chariot teams" in Chronicles could reflect the Chronicler's interest in encompassing the full complement of individuals associated with a chariot unit, rather than just the number of vehicles. The large number of footmen or horsemen confirms the immense human cost for the Arameans.

The verse primarily highlights God's ongoing favor and empowering presence with King David. The phrase "fled before Israel" underscores the divine hand in securing victory, showing that it was not merely by human might but by God's leading. The death of Shophach, the top general, signified the complete crushing of the Aramean military threat. This victory led directly to the submission of other Aramean states (1 Chr 19:19), cementing Israel's geopolitical dominance under David's righteous rule and further establishing the stability of God's chosen kingdom.