What did David do with the gold, silver and brass named after his victories?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

David consecrated all the vessels of gold, silver and brass to the Lord, together with silver and gold taken from the named nations; the chapter also says Solomon used the brass from Thebath and Chun for the brazen sea, pillars and vessels.

Chapter breakdown

The chapter records David’s victories and his chief officers.

David defeated and humbled the Philistines and took Geth and her daughters from them. He also defeated Moab; the Moabites became his servants and brought gifts. At that time he defeated Adarezer, king of Soba in the land of Hemath, when he went to extend his dominions as far as the river Euphrates. David took 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 footmen from him. He hamstrung the chariot horses, except for those of 100 chariots that he reserved for himself. The Syrians of Damascus came to help Adarezer, and David killed 22,000 of them. He put a garrison in Damascus so that Syria would serve him and bring gifts. The Lord assisted David in all things to which he went.

David brought the golden quivers of Adarezer’s servants to Jerusalem. From Thebath and Chun, Adarezer’s cities, he brought very much brass. Solomon used that brass to make the brazen sea, the pillars and the vessels of brass. When Thou, king of Hemath, heard that David had defeated all Adarezer’s army, he sent his son Adoram to David to ask for peace and congratulate him on defeating and overthrowing Adarezer, who was Thou’s enemy. David consecrated all the vessels of gold, silver and brass to the Lord, together with the silver and gold taken from the nations: Edom, Moab, the sons of Ammon, the Philistines and Amalec.

Abisai, son of Sarvia, killed 18,000 Edomites in the vale of the saltpits. A garrison was put in Edom so that Edom would serve David. The Lord preserved David in all things to which he went.

David reigned over all Israel and carried out judgment and justice among all his people. Joab, son of Sarvia, was over the army, and Josaphat, son of Ahilud, was recorder. Sadoc, son of Achitob, and Achimelech, son of Abiathar, were the priests; Susa was scribe. Banaias, son of Joiada, was over the bands of the Cerethi and Phelethi. David’s sons were chief about the king.

The story inside

The account moves from victories to the goods obtained and then to David’s officers. The Philistines lose Geth and her daughters, and Moab becomes subject and brings gifts. David defeats Adarezer and captures chariots, horsemen and footmen, while keeping the horses for only 100 chariots. Damascus sends help to Adarezer, loses 22,000 men and receives a garrison so Syria will serve David and bring gifts. David brings quivers to Jerusalem and brass from two cities; the account names Solomon’s later use of that brass. News of Adarezer’s defeat leads Thou to send Adoram for peace and congratulations because Adarezer was his enemy. David consecrates the named metals to the Lord. Abisai’s victory and a garrison bring Edom into service to David. The account names the Lord’s assistance and preservation, then records David’s judgment and justice and the people holding his chief offices.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The military numbers have different meanings. David captures 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 footmen from Adarezer, but keeps the horses for only 100 chariots. The 22,000 Syrians and 18,000 Edomites are killed, with the latter victory assigned to Abisai. Keeping these details distinct preserves who did what and what happened to each group.
2
Thou’s response has a stated cause. He hears that David has defeated Adarezer’s whole army and sends his son Adoram to ask for peace and offer congratulations because Adarezer was his enemy. David’s consecration and Solomon’s use of the brass are also stated, but the chapter gives no account of David’s motives about luxury or of a completed treaty.
3
The closing roster belongs with the report of judgment and justice. It names each officer and his relationship and role, including two priests and David’s sons as chiefs about the king. It records those responsibilities without describing court procedures or explaining how the offices produced stability.

Test your recall

Damascus sends help to Adarezer → David kills 22,000 Syrians and places a garrison so Syria will serve him and bring gifts. Thou hears of Adarezer’s defeat, and Adarezer is his enemy → he sends Adoram to seek peace and congratulate David. Captured quivers go to Jerusalem; brass from Thebath and Chun is used by Solomon → the account names the brazen sea, pillars and vessels. David consecrates the listed metals → the chapter turns to Edom’s defeat and service, then his judgment, justice and chief officers.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 43228–43231
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 18 David’s victories. His chief officers.
Lines 43232–43252
18:1. And it came to pass after this, that David defeated the Philistines, and humbled them, and took away Geth, and her daughters out of the hands of the Philistines, 18:2. And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites were made David’s servants, and brought him gifts. 18:3. At that time David defeated also Adarezer king of Soba of the land of Hemath, when he went to extend his dominions as far as the river Euphrates. 18:4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and he houghed all the chariot horses, only a hundred chariots, which he reserved for himself. 18:5. And the Syrians of Damascus came also to help Adarezer king of Soba: and David slew of them likewise two and twenty thousand men. 18:6. And he put a garrison in Damascus, that Syria also should serve him, and bring gifts. And the Lord assisted him in all things to which he went.
Lines 43254–43271
18:7. And David took the golden quivers which the servants of Adarezer had, and he brought them to Jerusalem. 18:8. Likewise out of Thebath and Chun, cities of Adarezer, he brought very much brass, of which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. 18:9. Now when Thou king of Hemath heard that David had defeated all the army of Adarezer king of Soba, 18:10. He sent Adoram his son to king David to desire peace of him, and to congratulate him that he had defeated and overthrown Adarezer: for Thou was an enemy to Adarezer. 18:11. And all the vessels of gold, and silver and brass king David consecrated to the Lord, with the silver and gold which he had taken from all the nations, as well from Edom, and from Moab, and from the sons of Ammon, as from the Philistines, and from Amalec.
Lines 43273–43277
18:12. And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the vale of the saltpits, eighteen thousand: 18:13. And he put a garrison in Edom, that Edom should serve David: and the Lord preserved David in all things to which he went.
Lines 43279–43291
18:14. So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people. 18:15. And Joab the son of Sarvia was over the army, and Josaphat the son of Ahilud recorder. 18:16. And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests: and Susa, scribe. 18:17. And Banaias the son of Joiada was over the bands of the Cerethi, and the Phelethi: and the sons of David were chief about the king.