CHAPTER 18 Oct. 4 
David’s Prosperity
After this, it happened that David struck the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2He struck Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. 3David struck Hadadezer king of Zobah to Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 4David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen and twenty thousand footmen; and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved of them enough for one hundred chariots. 5When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men. 6Then 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. 7David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much brass, with which Solomon made the bronze laver, the pillars and the vessels of brass. 9When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10he sent Hadoram his son to king David to greet him and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and struck him (for Hadadezer had wars with Tou); and he had with him all kinds of vessels of gold and silver and brass. 11King David also dedicated these to Yahweh, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, Moab, the children of Ammon, the Philistines and from Amalek. 12Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand. 13He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went. 14David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness to all his people. 15Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe; 17Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief around the king.

Commentary

18:1-3 After David received the promises about the future Messianic Kingdom, he went out and established his Kingdom, attacking Israel's enemies and driving them out of the land. Our response to the future Hope of the Kingdom, which we too have through the very same promises, should also be to try to live the Kingdom life now, as far as we can.
18:4 But reserved of them for one hundred chariots- The king of Israel was not supposed to multiply horses and chariots but rather trust in God (Dt. 17:16). David allowed himself a little weakness in this matter; and his son Solomon used it as an excuse to multiply so many horses and chariots that he had to build cities to store them in. The problem with allowing ourselves a ‘little’ sin is that sin by its nature spreads and multiplies, and is repeated in others for whom we are an example (like our children) to a far greater extent.