And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

1 CHRONICLES 18:5KJV
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1 Chronicles 18:5 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 18:5 mean?

1 Chronicles 18:5 describes how, when soldiers from Damascus (Syrians) came to help Hadarezer, the king of Zobah, King David defeated them and killed twenty-two thousand of their men. This verse shows David’s military strength and the scale of his victory over those who opposed him.

The verse is part of a historical account in which the writer tells how David expanded his kingdom by defeating neighboring enemies. The Syrians of Damascus came to support Hadarezer against David, but David’s forces overcame them decisively. This event highlights the alliances and conflicts among ancient kingdoms in the region during David’s reign.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 18:5

  • דַּמֶּשֶׂק (Damméseq, "Damascus"): This word refers to the important city and region of Damascus, showing that the Syrians who came were from a significant and powerful area.
  • עָזַר (ʿāzar, "help"): The Syrians came specifically to assist Hadarezer, emphasizing the alliance between these neighboring kingdoms against David.
  • הִכָּה (hikkāh, "slew" or "struck down"): This verb often means to strike or defeat in battle, highlighting the completeness of David’s victory.

Why 1 Chronicles 18:5 matters

  • The verse clarifies that David’s victories were not just against isolated enemies, but also against coalitions of powerful kingdoms, showing the extent of his military success.
  • It shows the political landscape of the time, where alliances were quickly formed to resist a rising power like David’s Israel.
  • The scale of the defeat (twenty-two thousand men) underlines how significant this battle was in establishing David’s dominance in the region.

Where else these words appear

“Hadarezer” Hebrew H1928 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Samuel 10:16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
  • 1 Chronicles 18:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
  • 1 Chronicles 18:10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him;(for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.

“Zobah” Hebrew H6678 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Samuel 14:47 So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.
  • 2 Samuel 8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
  • 1 Kings 11:23 And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:

“Damascus” Hebrew H1834 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
  • 2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.
  • Isaiah 17:3 The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

“help” Hebrew H5826 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 49:25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
  • 2 Chronicles 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
  • Psalms 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.