2880. Tibchath
Lexical Summary
Tibchath: Tibchath

Original Word: טבְחַת
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Tibchath
Pronunciation: TIB-khath
Phonetic Spelling: (tib-khath')
KJV: Tibhath
NASB: Tibhath
Word Origin: [from H2878 (טִּבחָה - meat)]

1. slaughter
2. Tibchath, a place in Syria

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Tibhath

From tibehah; slaughter; Tibchath, a place in Syria -- Tibhath.

see HEBREW tibehah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from tabach
Definition
an Aramean (Syrian) city
NASB Translation
Tibhath (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
טִבְחַת proper name, of a location a Syrian city; מִטִּבְחַת 1 Chronicles 18:8 (ᵐ5 Μεταβηχα(ς), ᵐ5L ταβααθ); so read also for II. בֶּטַח 2 Samuel 8:8 (see above)

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

טִבְחַת (Tibhath) appears once in Scripture: “From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a great amount of bronze, which Solomon later used to make the bronze Sea, pillars, and other bronze articles” (1 Chronicles 18:8).

Geographical and Historical Context

Tibhath belonged to the Aramean kingdom of Zobah, ruled by Hadadezer during the reign of David. Zobah’s sphere stretched north-east of Damascus toward the Euphrates, controlling lucrative trade routes. The Chronicler notes Tibhath immediately after listing counties defeated by David, situating the city within the network of fortified centers that safeguarded Hadadezer’s economic interests.

Davidic Conquest and Spoils

David’s campaign against Zobah (1 Chronicles 18:3-8; 2 Samuel 8:3-8) demonstrates the LORD’s extension of Israel’s borders (2 Samuel 7:9-11). The large stores of bronze captured at Tibhath underline the scale of royal wealth transferred from pagan to covenantal use. As in other victory reports (for example, Numbers 31:54; Joshua 6:24), the plunder becomes a visible testimony that all resources ultimately belong to God.

Role in Preparation for the Temple

Although David was forbidden to construct the Temple (1 Chronicles 28:3), he amassed materials for Solomon. The bronze from Tibhath eventually fashioned “the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the vessels of bronze” (1 Chronicles 18:8; compare 1 Kings 7:13-47). Thus a single conquered city indirectly supplied the enormous laver that symbolized cleansing (2 Chronicles 4:2-6) and the two pillars—Jachin and Boaz—standing at the Temple’s entrance (1 Kings 7:21). The record reminds readers that God can convert instruments of war into instruments of worship (Isaiah 2:4).

Textual Harmony with Samuel

2 Samuel lists “Betah and Berothai” (2 Samuel 8:8) where Chronicles reads “Tibhath and Cun.” Variations arise from copia in early manuscripts or dialectal shifts, but both accounts agree on the key facts: David’s victory, Hadadezer’s loss, and the transfer of vast bronze reserves. The correlation underscores the unity of the historical narrative while displaying the Spirit-guided flexibility of the writers to emphasize different theological aims—Samuel stresses David’s military prowess; Chronicles focuses on Temple preparation.

Spiritual and Ministry Insights

1. Stewardship: The journey of bronze from Tibhath to the Temple illustrates how God repurposes material gain for sacred service (1 Chronicles 29:14-16).
2. Inter-generational vision: David’s foresight in gathering resources (1 Chronicles 22:5) encourages believers to invest in ministries that may mature beyond their lifetime.
3. Sovereignty: The fall of Tibhath proclaims the LORD’s dominion over nations and kings (Psalm 2:8-12).
4. Purity and Worship: Bronze, often linked to judgment and purification (Exodus 38:30), finds its climactic use in the Temple’s Sea—pointing forward to the cleansing accomplished in Christ (Hebrews 10:22).

Key Themes for Preaching and Teaching

• God’s victories turn enemy strongholds into avenues for worship.
• Material resources become holy when yielded to divine purposes.
• Faithful preparation today equips the next generation for greater service.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמִטִּבְחַ֤ת ומטבחת ū·miṭ·ṭiḇ·ḥaṯ ūmiṭṭiḇḥaṯ umittivChat
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 18:8
HEB: וּמִטִּבְחַ֤ת וּמִכּוּן֙ עָרֵ֣י
NAS: Also from Tibhath and from Cun, cities
KJV: Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun,
INT: Tibhath Cun cities

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2880
1 Occurrence


ū·miṭ·ṭiḇ·ḥaṯ — 1 Occ.

2879
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