1 Chronicles Chapter 18

David Defeats His Enemies

1Chronicles 18:1 Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.
5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

The world at that time never recognized the promise to Abraham that because of the wickedness of those that live in the land of Canaan, God gave the land of Canaan to Israel through Isaac. They were given much more land than they have now even. However many failed to take all that was given to them under Joshua but later David took more of that land because so many fought against Israel over the years when they were just getting started until the time of David. David secured all of land and became king.

1Chronicles 18:6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8 Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.
9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
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.

When this king saw David's victory over Hadarezer, the king of Hamath who had previously fought with Hadarezer brought David gifts.

1Chrononicles 18:11 Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.
12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

Moab and Ammon was not oringinally given to them by God but since they became enemies of Israel, God seems to have allowed David to make them servants. They did get into idolatry and left the true worship of God so they had no protection against any who would conquer them. When God removes His hand of protection against any nation, they are at the mercy of any nation that is greater in power. We need God folks.

After David's rule, the nation of Israel was secure until after Solomon's reign when it was divided in two, the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south. Sin first in Israel and the in Judah caused them to lose their nation until the end of the Babylonian captivity of Judah. After that King Cyrus of Persia allowed them to return to their land and build a new temple.

David's Administration

1Chronicles 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

Joab was a faithful mighty warrior. The only thing he did that bothered David was when Joab killed Abner who was the military leader for King Saul. David mourned over Abner. Joab killed Abner for killing one of his brothers previously.

Zadok was one of the priests that was faithful and good in David's kingdom. He supported David and did not forsake him in the time when Absalom tried to take the kingdom from his father David.

1 Chronicles Chapter 19