1 Chronicles 18:12
New International Version
Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

New Living Translation
Abishai son of Zeruiah destroyed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

English Standard Version
And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Berean Standard Bible
Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

King James Bible
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

New King James Version
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

New American Standard Bible
Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

NASB 1995
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

NASB 1977
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Legacy Standard Bible
Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote 18,000 of Edom in the Valley of Salt.

Amplified Bible
Also Abishai the son of Zeruiah [David’s half sister] defeated 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

Christian Standard Bible
Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Salt Valley.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

American Standard Version
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

Contemporary English Version
Abishai the son of Zeruiah defeated the Edomite army in Salt Valley and killed 18,000 of their troops.

English Revised Version
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zeruiah's son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Dead Sea region.

Good News Translation
Abishai, whose mother was Zeruiah, defeated the Edomites in Salt Valley and killed eighteen thousand of them.

International Standard Version
Zeruiah's son Abishai killed 18,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley.

Majority Standard Bible
Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

NET Bible
Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

New Heart English Bible
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

World English Bible
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Abishai son of Zeruiah has struck Edom in the Valley of Salt—eighteen thousand,

Young's Literal Translation
And Abishai son of Zeruiah hath smitten Edom in the valley of salt -- eighteen thousand,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Abishai son of Zeruiah struck Edom in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the vale of the saltpits, eighteen thousand:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Truly, Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, struck eighteen thousand of the Edomites in the Valley of the Salt Pits.

New American Bible
Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, also defeated eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

New Revised Standard Version
Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Moreover Abishai the son of Zuriah brother of Joab slew the Edomites in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand men.And he said to him, If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall come to my help; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Abishi, son of Tsuriya, the brother of Yuab, put the Edomites to the sword in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand men.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Abesa son of Saruia smote the Idumeans in the valley of Salt, eighteen thousand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David's Triumphs
11and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had carried off from all these nations—from Edom and Moab, and from the Ammonites, Philistines, and Amalekites. 12Moreover, Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 8:13-14
And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. / He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went.

Psalm 60:1
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A Miktam of David for instruction. When he fought Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. You have rejected us, O God; You have broken us; You have been angry; restore us!

2 Samuel 10:15-19
When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. / Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them. / When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him. ...

1 Kings 11:15-16
Earlier, when David was in Edom, Joab the commander of the army had gone to bury the dead and had struck down every male in Edom. / Joab and all Israel had stayed there six months, until he had killed every male in Edom.

2 Samuel 23:8-12
These are the names of David’s mighty men: Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. / Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. ...

1 Chronicles 19:16-19
When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them. / When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, advanced toward the Arameans, and arrayed for battle against them. When David lined up to engage them in battle, they fought against him. / But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophach the commander of their army. ...

2 Kings 14:7
Amaziah struck down 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He took Sela in battle and called it Joktheel, which is its name to this very day.

Psalm 108:10-13
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? / Have You not rejected us, O God? Will You no longer march out, O God, with our armies? / Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. ...

1 Chronicles 11:6-14
Now David had said, “Whoever is the first to strike down a Jebusite will become chief commander.” And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and he became the chief. / So David took up residence in the fortress; that is why it was called the City of David. / He built up the city around it, from the supporting terraces to the surrounding wall, while Joab restored the rest of the city. ...

2 Samuel 21:15-22
Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted. / Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. / But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” ...

1 Chronicles 20:4-8
Some time later, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, a descendant of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. / Once again there was a battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. / And there was also a battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, ...

2 Samuel 22:1-51
And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. / He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. / My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. ...

1 Chronicles 11:20-25
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. / He was doubly honored above the Three, and he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. / And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. ...

2 Samuel 23:18-23
Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he wielded his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. / Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. / And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. ...

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.


Treasury of Scripture

Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

Moreover

1 Chronicles 2:16
Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

1 Chronicles 11:20
And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.

1 Samuel 26:6,8
Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee…

Abishai [heb] Abshai

1 Chronicles 19:11
And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

slew of the Edomites

2 Samuel 7:13
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

2 Samuel 8:13,14
And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men

Psalm 60:1,8,9
To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again…

the valley of Salt

2 Kings 14:7
He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

2 Chronicles 25:11
And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

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Abishai Abi'shai Defeated Edom Edomites E'domites Eighteen Moreover Putting Salt Slew Smitten Smote Struck Sword Thousand Valley Zeruiah Zeru'iah
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1 Chronicles 18
1. David subdues the Philistines and the Moabites
3. He smites Hadarezer and the Syrians
9. Tou sends Hadoram with presents to bless David
11. The presents and the spoil David dedicates to God
13. He put garrisons in Edom
14. David's officers














Moreover
This word serves as a continuation of the narrative, indicating that the events described are part of a larger sequence of victories and accomplishments. In the context of 1 Chronicles, it highlights the ongoing success of David's reign, emphasizing God's continued favor and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The Hebrew word used here can also imply "in addition," suggesting that this victory is one of many, underscoring the comprehensive nature of David's military campaigns.

Abishai son of Zeruiah
Abishai is a prominent figure in David's military, known for his bravery and loyalty. As the son of Zeruiah, David's sister, he is also David's nephew, which places him within the royal family. His actions reflect the strength and unity of David's leadership team. The mention of his lineage underscores the importance of family ties and loyalty in the biblical narrative, as well as the role of God-fearing leaders in achieving victory.

struck down
This phrase indicates a decisive military victory. The Hebrew root "nakah" conveys the idea of defeating or smiting, often used in the context of divine judgment or deliverance. It suggests that Abishai's victory was not merely a result of human effort but was empowered by God's providence. This aligns with the biblical theme that God grants victory to His chosen people when they are faithful to Him.

eighteen thousand Edomites
The specific number highlights the magnitude of the victory. In biblical numerology, the number eighteen can symbolize bondage or oppression, which is fitting as the Edomites were long-standing adversaries of Israel. The defeat of such a large number of enemies signifies a significant shift in power and the establishment of peace and security for Israel. Historically, the Edomites were descendants of Esau and often in conflict with Israel, making this victory a fulfillment of God's promise to subdue Israel's enemies.

in the Valley of Salt
This geographical location is significant as it is near the Dead Sea, a region known for its harsh and barren landscape. The Valley of Salt is often associated with desolation and judgment, which adds a layer of symbolic meaning to the victory. It suggests that God can bring triumph and life even in the most desolate places. Archaeologically, this area has been identified with the modern-day region of the Arabah, further grounding the biblical narrative in historical reality.

(12, 13) The reduction of Edom. The paragraph mark should be at 1Chronicles 18:12, not 1Chronicles 18:13.

(12) Moreover Abishai . . .--Heb., And Abishai son of Zeruiah had smitten Edom in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand.

In Samuel we read something quite different: "And David made a name, when he returned from his smiting Aram." "Aram" should be read Edom, as the LXX., Syriac, and Arabic have it. Perhaps, also, the text of Samuel is further corrupted. (Comp. 1Kings 11:15. and Psalms 60, title.) From a comparison of the three passages it appears that Edom took advantage of David's absence to invade Judah, whereupon the king detached a column of his forces, and sent them south under Joab and Abishai to repulse the new enemy.

Valley of salt.--2Kings 14:7. . . .

Verse 12. - Abishai... slew of the Edomites. The parallel place omits to say that it was by aid of Abishai that David slew these eighteen thousand Edomites. They are there called Syrians, which reading is at all events in keeping with the Aram of the previous verse. Abishai, here named son of Zeruiah, possibly served under "Joab son of Zeruiah" (ver. 15), who is spoken of (1 Kings 11:15, 16) as very trenchant in this Edomite war, without any mention being made of Abishai. Psalm 60. (title) probably speaks of an instalment of the eighteen thousand spoken of here, as the nation now suffered all but extermination. The valley of salt. Situate in Edom (1 Kings 11:14-17; 2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:11). The word here used for "valley" is גֵּיא (Psalm 23:4), not the more generic word עֵמֶק, and signifies rather "ravine." The phrase occurs twice with the article expressed, גֵיא םחמֶּלָח. The place is celebrated also for the achievements of Amaziah (in references just given), who proceeded hence with ten thousand prisoners, to precipitate them down the cliff, i.e. Petra (הַסֶּלַע, 2 Chronicles 25:12). The real situation of this place is still doubtful. Since the time of the German traveller Geethen ('Reisen,' 2:356), and of Robinson ('Bibl. Res.,' 2:109), it has been generally assumed to be a tract of land extending some six miles south of the Dead Sea, and bounded at that distance by the range of hills which there runs across the country; but beside the consideration that the word "ravine" could not describe that tract of country, there are others very unfavourable to the supposition (see these carefully stated by Grove, in Smith's 'Bible Dictionary,' 3:1097).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moreover, Abishai
וְאַבְשַׁ֣י (wə·’aḇ·šay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 52: Abishai -- 'my father is Jesse', an Israelite name

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Zeruiah
צְרוּיָ֗ה (ṣə·rū·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6870: Zeruiah -- an Israelite woman

struck down
הִכָּ֤ה (hik·kāh)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

eighteen
שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה (šə·mō·w·nāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8083: A cardinal number, eight, eighth

thousand
אָֽלֶף׃ (’ā·lep̄)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 505: A thousand

Edomites
אֱדוֹם֙ (’ĕ·ḏō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 123: The name of a condiment

in the Valley
בְּגֵ֣יא (bə·ḡê)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1516: A valley

of Salt.
הַמֶּ֔לַח (ham·me·laḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4417: Powder, salt


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah struck (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 18:11
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