Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.
- BSB Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.
- NKJV Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.
- NASB Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David, bringing tribute. And the Lord helped David wherever he went.
- NLT Then he placed several army garrisons in Damascus, the Aramean capital, and the Arameans became David’s subjects and paid him tribute money. So the Lord made David victorious wherever he went.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David garrisons Damascus and the Syrians become tributary servants, for the Lord gave him victory everywhere. The refrain credits God, not David, for the success.
Overview
David secures Aramean territory with garrisons, and the people pay tribute. The key statement, 'Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went,' is the theological heart of the chapter: David's triumphs are the Lord's doing. This God-given victory anticipates the certain triumph of the Messiah, whom God exalts over all (Philippians 2:9-11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Ps 121:8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
- Prov 21:31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
- Ps 18:43–44Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
- 1 Chr 17:8And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
- 1 Chr 18:2And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
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Christ at the center
The genealogies and the everlasting covenant with David trace the single thread of promise running through the generations straight to the Christ in whom the line reaches its goal.
How 1 Chronicles 18:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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