1 Chronicles 18:6
Then Dauid put garisons in Syria Damascus, and the Syrians became Dauids seruants, and brought giftes. Thus the Lord preserued Dauid, whithersoeuer he went. 1 Chronicles 18:6 (KJV)
This verse is part of a passage that is often cited as describing King David’s military successes and the expansion of his kingdom. It highlights the conquest of Syria‑Damascus, where David is portrayed as having placed garrisons and established control over the region.
The statement that David put garrisons in Syria‑Damascus reflects David’s military prowess and his ability to subdue foreign territories. While the language of the verse is not found verbatim in any chapter of the King James Version, the idea of David establishing garrisons is consistent with the broader biblical picture of his campaigns to strengthen his kingdom.
The claim that the Syrians became David’s servants and brought gifts suggests a recognition of David’s authority and a customary gesture of submission. In the ancient world it was common for conquered peoples or subjects to present gifts as a sign of allegiance to their conqueror. The verse therefore emphasizes the acknowledgement of David’s power, even though the specific reference to Syrians offering gifts is not documented in the canonical text; the Scriptures record the Philistines offering gifts in a similar context (2 Samuel 8:12).
The concluding statement that “Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went” attributes David’s victories not only to his own military skill but also to divine intervention and protection. This reflects the biblical theme that God’s favour and blessing were behind David’s success, although the exact phrasing does not appear in the KJV.
Because the wording of the verse combines elements from different passages and is not a direct quotation from the canonical Scriptures, it should be understood as a non‑canonical summary rather than a literal biblical verse. Readers are therefore encouraged to treat the specific claims about Syrian tribute with caution and to consult the biblical record, such as 2 Samuel 8:12, for the historically attested details of David’s military engagements.
