I Chronicles 18:7 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 18:7 Commentary: Gold Shields or Armor?
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What did David take from Hadadezer, shields or armor? This study explores the Hebrew term, the spoils of war, and dedication to God.
Research Summary
- Meaning: David took valuable gold items from the servants of King Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
- Key words: shĕlāṭim (H7982, shield or armor), laqach (H3947, took), bo (H0935, brought).
- Main debate: The Hebrew term shĕlāṭim may mean “shields” or “suits of armor”; early versions suggest armor.
- Theological theme: Dedication of war spoils to Yahweh prepares for the temple.
- Best use: Teaches that all victories come from God and should be used for His worship.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.
WEB World English Bible 2000
David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
KJV King James Version 1769
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And David taketh the shields of gold that have been on the servants of Hadarezer, and bringeth them in to Jerusalem;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And David took the golden quivers which the servants of Adarezer had, and he brought them to Jerusalem.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tomó también David los escudos de oro que llevaban los siervos de Adarezer, y trájolos á Jerusalem.
Tomou também Davi os escudos de ouro que levavam os servos de Hadadezer, e trouxe-os a Jerusalém.
Et David prit les boucliers d’ or qu’ avaient les serviteurs d’Hadarézer, et les apporta à Jérusalem.
Und David nahm die goldenen Schilde, die Hadadesers Knechte gehabt hatten, und brachte sie gen Jerusalem.
En David nam de gouden schilden, die bij Hadar-ezers knechten waren, en hij bracht ze te Jeruzalem.
E Davide tolse ai servi di Hadarezer i loro scudi d’oro e li portò a Gerusalemme.
Pobrał też Dawid tarcze złote, które mieli słudzy Hadarezerowi, i wniósł je do Jeruzalemu.
И взял Давид золотые щиты, которые были у рабов Адраазара, и принес их в Иерусалим.
他 奪了 哈大利謝 臣僕 所拿 的金 盾牌 帶到 耶路撒冷。
And the gold body-covers of the servants of Hadadezer, David took to Jerusalem.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 18:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that David seized valuable gold items from the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. The Hebrew word shĕlāṭim (H7982) is uncertain. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the early versions like the Septuagint and Targum never translate it as "shield," giving "collars" or "arms" instead; a suit of armor is likely. The Chronicler’s wider context (verses 8, 11) shows David dedicating these spoils to Yahweh, preparing materials for Solomon’s temple. Matthew Henry sees David’s victories as a pattern of Christ subduing all enemies.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Shields: The traditional English translation based on context and later use of golden shields by Solomon (1 Kings 10:16-17).
- Suits of armor: The early versions (LXX, Targum) never translate as shields; the phrase 'on the servants' suits armor better; Cambridge Bible supports this.
What is clear: David took valuable gold items from Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem, dedicating them to Yahweh in preparation for the temple.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of shĕlāṭim | The word refers to gold items taken from Hadadezer’s servants. It is a specific term for military gear. | Some translations render it as “shields” (WEB, KJV, ASV). The Cambridge Bible and early versions (LXX, Targum) indicate it may be “suits of armor” or “collars.” The lexical evidence leans away from the standard English rendering. |
| Originality of “brought them to Jerusalem” | The phrase appears in the Hebrew Masoretic Text and most versions. | The Peshitta omits these words, leading some to suggest it is a gloss from 2 Samuel 8:7. Cambridge Bible notes this as a possibility. |
| Theological purpose of the spoils | The Chronicler emphasizes that David dedicated the spoils to Yahweh, preparing for the temple. | Some see this as a historical detail; others view it as the Chronicler’s theological interpretation of David’s reign, showing that all victories serve the cultic center. |
Historical & Cultural Context
First Chronicles 18 sits within the Chronicler’s account of David’s military campaigns, parallel to 2 Samuel 8. The Chronicler shapes the material to highlight David’s role in preparing for the temple. Verses 3, 6 describe David’s defeat of Hadadezer king of Zobah, a Syrian state. The victory extends Israel’s influence to the Euphrates, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). Verse 7 reports the seizure of gold items from Hadadezer’s officers.
These items are brought to Jerusalem. The Chronicler then records that David dedicated all spoils, gold, silver, bronze, to Yahweh (v. 11). This dedication sets the stage for Solomon’s temple. The gold from Zobah, along with tribute from other nations, becomes part of the temple treasury. Later kings would use this wealth: Solomon made gold shields (1 Kings 10:16, 17), and Shishak later carried them away (1 Kings 14:26). Rehoboam replaced them with bronze (2 Chronicles 12:9, 10), marking a decline.
The historical context shows David as a warrior-king under God’s blessing. Every victory yields resources for worship. The verse underscores that the spoils of just war belong ultimately to God.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one significant variant. The Peshitta (an early Syriac translation) omits the words “and brought them to Jerusalem.” Cambridge Bible suggests this phrase may be a gloss introduced from the parallel account in 2 Samuel 8:7. The Hebrew word shĕlāṭim is itself uncertain; the Septuagint and Targum never translate it as “shield,” offering instead “collars” or “arms.” Later Jewish tradition (Targum on Chronicles) does render it “shield.” No other variants are noted in the supplied material.
Reception History
In church history, this verse was sometimes read typologically: David as a type of Christ, and the gold brought to Jerusalem as the wealth of nations offered to God. Medieval commentators allegorized the gold as spiritual virtues. The Reformation brought attention to the literal Hebrew text, and modern scholarship focuses on the lexical and textual issues.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God gives the victory. The context (v. 6) states directly: “Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.” David’s success is not mere military prowess but divine enablement. Every conquest is a gift.
- Spoils belong to God’s house. The gold brought to Jerusalem is not kept for personal enrichment. David dedicates it to Yahweh (v. 11). The spoils of war become sacred materials for the temple.
- David foreshadows the greater King. As Matthew Henry notes, David’s victories prefigure Christ subduing all enemies. What David gathered as tribute, Christ gathers as the nations’ treasure for His church.
Five-point outline
- David defeats Hadadezer (v. 3, 4).
- Syrian allies are struck down (v. 5).
- David takes gold shields/armor from the officers (v. 7).
- These are brought to Jerusalem, the place God chose.
- The spoils are dedicated to Yahweh, preparing for the temple (v. 11).
Illustration hooks
- War trophies. Athletes who win championships often bring home trophies. Some display them for pride; others donate them to a hall of fame. David brings his trophies to God’s house, a model for dedicating our successes to Him.
- Taxes and offering. The gold was tribute from a defeated king. It becomes an offering. This illustrates how God can take what comes from conflict and turn it into something beautiful for worship.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Chronicler include this detail? It ties David’s military campaigns directly to the temple project. God’s deliverance funds His dwelling place.
- What gold do I need to bring to Jerusalem? The resources, skills, and time we have come from God. Are we dedicating them to His purposes?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse sits at the center of a passage about David’s victories and their purpose. The gold taken from Hadadezer’s officers is not loot for personal wealth; it becomes part of the temple treasury. Use these questions to help your group see how God’s provision for victory also provides for worship.
Discussion questions
- What does David take from Hadadezer’s servants? Why is it valuable?
- Where does David bring these items? What is the significance of Jerusalem in Chronicles?
- Read verses 8, 11. How does David treat the spoils of war? What does this tell you about his priorities?
- The Hebrew word for the gold items is uncertain. Does the exact meaning matter for the passage’s message?
- How does the Chronicler connect David’s victories to the building of the temple (see also 1 Chronicles 22:2, 5)?
- In what ways do the successes we experience become resources for God’s work?
- How can we keep from hoarding our “gold” and instead bring it to God’s house?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 10:16 | King Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one buckler. |
| I Kings 10:17 | He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went to one shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. |
| I Kings 14:26 | and he took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He even took away all of it, including all the gold shields which Solomon had made. |
| I Kings 14:28 | It was so, that as often as the king went into Yahweh’s house, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. |
| II Chronicles 9:15 | King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one large shield. |
| II Chronicles 9:16 | He made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. The king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. |
| II Chronicles 12:9 | So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He took it all away. He also took away the shields of gold which Solomon had made. |
| II Chronicles 12:10 | King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king’s house. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator argues that the Hebrew word usually translated “shields” probably means “suit of armour” instead. Shields would not be described as “upon” a person, and the earliest translations never render the word as “shield,” using varied conjectural terms.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And Dauid tooke the shieldes of gold that were of the seruants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Ierusalem.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry points out that David's stunning military successes came right after he had enjoyed sweet communion with God through word and prayer. For Henry, the sequence is significant: time spent with God first gave David extraordinary vigor and courage to conquer, and the long-time enemies of Israel foreshadow how all opposing powers will finally fall before the Son of David.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that David ends his prayer the same way God’s promise ends: with the word "for ever." God’s word is fixed on eternal things, and David’s prayer follows suit. This pattern should shape our own desires and hopes to look beyond the present toward what lasts forever.