1 chronicles 18:9 - When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 chronicles 18:9" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a diplomatic action by Tou (also known as Toi in some texts), the king of Hamath. Let's break it down:
"When Tou king of Hamath heard...": This tells us that King Tou received information. Hamath was a city-state located north of Israel, in what is now part of Syria. Tou was the ruler of this kingdom.
"...that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah...": This is the crucial piece of information. David, the king of Israel, had decisively defeated the army of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. Zobah was another Aramean kingdom, and apparently a powerful one at the time. This defeat was significant.
Meaning and Implications:
Power Shift: Hadadezer was a regional power that likely posed a threat to Hamath (and potentially Israel). David's victory over Hadadezer dramatically altered the balance of power in the region. Hamath was now relieved of a potential threat and had an opportunity to align itself with the ascendant power (Israel).
Strategic Opportunity: Tou recognized that David's victory presented a strategic opportunity for Hamath. By congratulating or offering allegiance to David, Tou could secure his kingdom's safety and potentially benefit from an alliance.
Diplomatic Action: The verse is setting up a subsequent action by Tou. The next verses describe how Tou sends his son, Hadoram, to David with gifts to congratulate him and to establish a relationship.
In essence, this verse explains why Tou of Hamath took action. He understood that David's victory over Hadadezer created a new geopolitical reality, and he needed to respond to it in a way that would benefit his kingdom. It's a moment of political opportunism based on an observed shift in power.
1 chronicles 18:9 - When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
What does "1 chronicles 18:9" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a diplomatic action by Tou (also known as Toi in some texts), the king of Hamath. Let's break it down:
"When Tou king of Hamath heard...": This tells us that King Tou received information. Hamath was a city-state located north of Israel, in what is now part of Syria. Tou was the ruler of this kingdom.
"...that David had struck all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah...": This is the crucial piece of information. David, the king of Israel, had decisively defeated the army of Hadadezer, the king of Zobah. Zobah was another Aramean kingdom, and apparently a powerful one at the time. This defeat was significant.
Meaning and Implications:
Power Shift: Hadadezer was a regional power that likely posed a threat to Hamath (and potentially Israel). David's victory over Hadadezer dramatically altered the balance of power in the region. Hamath was now relieved of a potential threat and had an opportunity to align itself with the ascendant power (Israel).
Strategic Opportunity: Tou recognized that David's victory presented a strategic opportunity for Hamath. By congratulating or offering allegiance to David, Tou could secure his kingdom's safety and potentially benefit from an alliance.
Diplomatic Action: The verse is setting up a subsequent action by Tou. The next verses describe how Tou sends his son, Hadoram, to David with gifts to congratulate him and to establish a relationship.
In essence, this verse explains why Tou of Hamath took action. He understood that David's victory over Hadadezer created a new geopolitical reality, and he needed to respond to it in a way that would benefit his kingdom. It's a moment of political opportunism based on an observed shift in power.