1 CHRONICLES 18 COMMENTARYEDITED BY GLENN PEASE

David’s Victories

1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

BARNES, "Gath and her towns - In Samuel, Methegammah (see the marginal reference note).

CLARKE, "David - took Gath and her towns - See the comparison between this chapter and 2Sa_8:1 (note), etc., in the notes on the latter.

HENRY 1-8, "After this, it is said (1Ch_18:1), David did those great exploits. After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, he went on his work with extraordinary vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. Thus Jacob, after his vision, lifted up his feet, Gen_29:1.We have taken a view of these victories before, and shall now only observe, 1. Those that have been long enemies to the Israel of God will be brought down at last. The

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Philistines had, for several generations, been vexatious to Israel, but now David subdued them, 1Ch_18:1. Thus shall all opposing rule, principality, and power, be, at the end of time, put down by the Son of David, and the most inveterate enemies shall fall before him. 2. Such is the uncertainty of this world that frequently men lose their wealth and power when they think to confirm it. Hadarezer was smitten as he went to establish his dominion, 1Ch_18:3. 3. A horse is a vain thing for safety, so David said (Psa_33:17), and it seems he believed what he said, for he houghed the chariot-horses, 1Ch_18:4. Being resolved not to trust to them (Psa_20:7), he would not use them. 4. The enemies of God's church are often made to ruin themselves by helping one another, 1Ch_18:5. The Syrians of Damascus were smitten when they came to help Hadarezer. When hand thus joins in hand they shall not only not go unpunished, but thereby they shall be gathered as the sheaves into the floor, Mic_4:11, Mic_4:12. 5. The wealth of the sinnersometimes proves to have been laid up for the just. The Syrians brought gifts, 1Ch_18:6. Their shields of gold and their brass were brought to Jerusalem, 1Ch_18:7, 1Ch_18:8. As the tabernacle was built of the spoils of the Egyptians, so the temple of the spoils of other Gentile nations, a happy presage of the interest the Gentiles should have in the gospel church.

JAMISON, "1Ch_18:1, 1Ch_18:2. David subdues the Philistines and Moabites.David ... took Gath and her towns — The full extent of David’s conquests in the Philistine territory is here distinctly stated, whereas in the parallel passage (2Sa_8:1) it was only described in a general way. Gath was the “Metheg-ammah,” or “arm-bridle,” as it is there called - either from its supremacy as the capital over the other Philistine towns, or because, in the capture of that important place and its dependencies, he obtained the complete control of his restless neighbors.

K&D 1-17, "The events recorded in these three chapters are all narrated in the second book of Samuel also, and in the same order. First, there are grouped together in our 18th chapter, and in 2 Sam 8, in such a manner as to afford a general view of the whole, all the wars which David carried on victoriously against all his enemies round about in the establishment of the Israelitish rule, with a short statement of the results, followed by a catalogue of David's chief public officials. In 1 Chron 19 and in 2 Sam 10 we have a more detailed account of the arduous war against the Ammonites and Syrians, and in 1Ch_20:1-3 and 2Sa_12:26-31 the conclusion of the war with the capture of Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites; and finally, in 1Ch_20:4-8, we have a few short accounts of the victories of the Israelitish heroes over giants from the land of the Philistines, which are inserted in 2Sa_21:18-22 as a supplement to the last section of David's history. Apart from this last section, which is to be regarded even in the Chronicle as an appendix, we find the arrangement and succession of the events to be the same in both books, since the sections which in 2Sa_9:1-13 and 2Sa_11:1-12, 2Sa_11:25, stand between the histories of the wars, contain sketches of David's family life, which the author of the Chronicle has, in accordance with his plan, omitted. Even as to individual details the two narratives are perfectly agreed, the divergences being inconsiderable; and even these, in so far as they are original, and are not results of

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careless copying, - as, for instance, the omission of the word 1 ,נציביםCh_18:6, as compared with 1Ch_18:13 and 2Sa_8:6, and the difference in the numbers and names in 1Ch_18:4, 1Ch_18:8, as compared with 2Sa_4:4, 2Sa_4:8, are, - partly mere explanations of obscure expressions, partly small additions or abridgments. For the commentary, therefore, we may refer to the remarks on 2nd Samuel, where the divergences of the Chronicle from the record in Samuel are also dealt with. With 1Ch_18:1-13 cf. 2Sa_8:1-14; and with the register of public officials, 2Sa_18:14-17, cf. 2Sa_8:15-18.

Examples of paraphrastic explanation are found in 1Ch_18:1, where the figurative expression, David took the bridle of the mother out of the hands of the Philistines, i.e., deprived them of the hegemony, is explained by the phrase, David took Gath and her cities out of the hands of the Philistines, i.e., took from the Philistines the capital with her daughter cities; and in 1Ch_18:17, כהנים is rendered by, the first at the king's hand. Among the abridgments, the omission of David's harsh treatment of the Moabites who were taken prisoners is surprising, no reason for it being discoverable; for the assertion that the chronicler has purposely omitted it in order to free David from the charge of such barbarous conduct, is disposed of by the fact that he does not pass over in silence the similar treatment of the conquered inhabitants of Rabbah in 1Ch_20:3. Instead of this, the chronicler has several historical notes peculiar to himself, which are wanting in the text of Samuel, and which prove that the author of the Chronicle has not derived his account from the second book of Samuel. Such, e.g., is the statement in 1Ch_18:8, that Solomon caused the brazen sea and the pillars and vessels of the court of the temple to be made of the brass taken as booty in the war against Hadadezer; in 1Ch_18:11, the word ם which in 1Ch_18:11 ,מארם which is wanting in Samuel, as ,מאד of that book is used in place of it, probably stood originally in the Chronicle also. Such also are the more accurate statements in 1Ch_18:12 as to the victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt (see on 2Sa_8:13).BI-12, "Now after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines.Spoils from EdomIf we have conquered an enemy we must hold the conquest as an illustration of the power of God rather than of the skill of our own might or hand. The idols which we bring away from the lands of darkness are to be set up in God’s house, and are to mark points in the progress of Christian civilisation. They are to be regarded as indications of a universal conquest which Christ has yet to win over the nations of the whole world. If we have brought back spoils—such as art, music, or any form of pleasure by which the popular mind can be touched and moved in an upward direction—we are to remember that in all these spoils we are to see the Divine power, and not proofs of our own military genius. (J. Parker, D. D.)

BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:1. Now after this David smote the Philistines — After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as is recorded in the foregoing chapter, he went on in his work with an extraordinary vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. The reader will find all this chapter explained in the notes on 2 Samuel 8. Nevertheless we shall here make two or three short observations upon some

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parts of it.

ELLICOTT, "This section represents the warlike aspect of David’s character, just as 1 Chronicles 15-17 portrayed him from the religious point of view, as zealous for the due observance of the Divine order in worship. The narratives are closely parallel to the corresponding ones in 2 Samuel, and are given in the same order. The variations, such as they are, may be accounted for (1) by mistakes of copyists; (2) by the chronicler’s habit of explaining difficult expressions, abridging what appeared needlessly prolix, and adding here and there small details from another source.

XVIII.

1. A summary account of David’s wars of conquest (1 Chronicles 18:1-13). 2. His internal administration (1 Chronicles 18:14-17). (Comp. 2 Samuel 8, and the Notes on that chapter.)

Verse 1

(1) Now after this it came to pass.—Literally, And it befel afterwards. This expression does not put the contents of this chapter into direct chronological sequence with those of the last. (Comp. Note on 1 Chronicles 17:1.) The formula of the original history, from which both Samuel and Chronicles have derived a chief part of their substance, has been taken over without modification, after the manner of Oriental compilers. We may, therefore, regard the phrase as a mere mark of transition in the narrative.

Gath and her towns.—Heb., her daughters, that is, outlying dependencies. Samuel has, “And David took the bridle [control, supremacy] of the metropolis [mother-city] out of the hand,” &c. The chronicler or his authority has interpreted this curious expression (mètheg hâ’ammâh). If at the time Gath was the chief city of Philistia, and David made it recognise his suzerainty by payment of tribute, the phrases of both books are intelligible. In Solomon’s time Gath was ruled by a king, Achish (1 Kings 2:39), but he was hardly independent of Solomon. ( Comp. 1 Kings 4:24. ) The general sense is the same if mètheg hâ’ammâh be rendered the bridle of the arm—i.e., the sovereign control, or supremacy.

PARKER, "[The Speakers Commentary points out that this chapter is closely parallel with2Samuel8 , differing from it only in a few passages. It contains an account of David"s chief wars ( 1 Chronicles 18:1-13), and a list of his principal officers ( 1 Chronicles 18:15-17).]

1. Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

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2. And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David"s servants, and brought gifts.

3. And David smote Hadarezer [or, Hadadezer ( 2 Samuel 8:3). This is a corrupt form of the name which is given correctly in 2 Samuel 8:3-12, and 1 Kings 11:23, as Hadadezer. It means "The Sun-God helps" or "has helped"] king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

5. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6. Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David"s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

7. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

8. Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

9. Now when Tou [this king is called Toi in 2 Samuel 8:9. It is impossible to say which is the right reading] king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;

10. He sent Hadoram [in Samuel "Joram;" but "Hadoram" is preferable, since it is not likely that the Syrians would employ a name of which one element is "Jehovah"] his son to king David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him [the words are the same here and in Samuel, where the A.V. has "to salute him and to bless him." "To greet him and congratulate him" would perhaps best represent the original], because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels [the purchase of foreign aid by means of gold and silver vessels, rather than by specie, receives illustration from the later Jewish history, where we find Ahaz bribing Tiglath-pileser with "the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord" ( 2 Kings 16:8), as well as from the Assyrian records, which speak of a Babylonian monarch as procuring the help of the Elamites in the same way] of gold and silver and brass.

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11. Them also king David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12. Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. [This is no doubt the victory assigned in 2 Samuel 8:13 to David, and there wrongly described as a victory over the Syrians. That the "valley of salt" was in Edom appears from 2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chronicles 25:11. That Abishai was the general who gained the victory for David we learn from this passage only. Other incidents of the Edomite war are related in 1 Kings 11:14-17.]

Spoils From Edom

IT would appear from the opening of this chapter that David was called to war rather than to building. We are not to suppose that we are necessarily in direct chronological sequence; but we are face to face with the fact that the man who proposed to build a tabernacle for the ark was called upon to do the work of a warrior, which he could better do than his son Solomon. Who so mighty as David in battle? Who but himself could have taken Gath and her daughters, or outlying dependencies? At the same time we are entitled to reason that though David was prevented from entering upon the actual occupation of building, yet even in war he was contributing to the rearing of the tabernacle. Properly considered, righteous war means building it is not the act of building, but it prepares for the work of edification. Until the work of subjugation has been completed, the building cannot be settled upon proper foundations. Alas, there is always an immense destructive work to be done before the work of construction can be properly begun. In reading these ancient records we must remember that at the time war was the only power that could be understood. We are not entitled to take back Christian ethics to pre-Christian times, and to judge those ages by the higher standards of apostolic morality. Did verses of this kind occur in the New Testament, we should hesitate to regard them as expressing the divine will, but should rather say, "an enemy hath done this." But when David lived, the sword appeared to be indispensable; war was a tremendous but necessary evil, and issues had to be wrought out which it would seem were impossible apart from the deadly action of the soldier. The moral meaning of this is clear enough: whilst we are destroying evil we are building the altar; whilst we are closing springs of evil we are opening the fountains of God; whilst we are causing men, by argument and example, to cease to do evil; we are also by so much teaching them to do well.

GUZIK, "A. David conquers neighboring nations.

1. (1 Chronicles 18:1) David subdues the Philistines.

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After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.

a. David attacked the Philistines, subdued them: The Philistines had troubled Israel for centuries, and often dominated Israel. Under the reign of David, he both attacked and subdued these troublesome enemies.

i. David didn’t avoid fighting the Philistines because Israel had lost to them so many times before. “The thing that fascinates me about this complete victory is the utter contempt with which David treated the great power of his adversaries.” (Redpath)

b. And took Gath: When David became king the Philistines were taking territory from God’s people. Under his leadership, God’s people began to take territory from the enemy.

i. “Evidence for David’s conquest of Gath and its surrounding villages is found in the presence of 600 Gittites in David’s entourage (2 Samuel 15:18).” (Selman)

PULPIT, "The course of last chapter's parallel is continued here, and answers closely to 2 Samuel 8:1-18. The present chapter contains the wars and victories of David (2 Samuel 8:1-13), with the arrangements consequent upon them; and (2 Samuel 8:14-17) an enumeration of some of his chief officers.

1 Chronicles 18:1

Took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines; literally, her daughters. The compiler of Chronicles gives us this plain statement where, in the parallel place, we find, "took Metheg-ammah," or more exactly, Metheg-ha-ammah, the explanation of which word (see 2 Samuel 8:1) is not yet ascertained. Its literal signification is "the bridle or curb of the mother city," and may mark a special strong position which commanded Gath, or it may describe Gath as owning itself to such a position. Gesenius understands it to mean that David "subjected the metropolis of the Philistines to himself," quoting the Arabian proverb, To give one s bridle to any one, as equivalent to submitting to him. He quotes also Job 30:11. It may be noted that Ammah is spoken of (2 Samuel 2:24) as the name of a hill, otherwise unknown, however. Although David subdued so many places, he reigned over them, i.e, over many of them, still by "their own kings" (1 Kings 4:24; 2 Chronicles 9:26). Hence we find Gath with a king still in 1 Kings 2:39.'

LANGE, "Preliminary Remark.—The present group of war reports runs parallel to four sections of 2 Samuel, separated from one another by other accounts. To the present summary accounts of the victorious warfare of David with all surrounding enemies in general, in 1 Chronicles18, corresponds 2 Samuel8; to the more copious description of 7

the peculiarly difficult war with Ammon, in 1 Chronicles19, corresponds 2 Samuel10; the close of this war, described in 1 Chronicles 20:1-3, by the taking of Rabbah, has its parallel in 2 Samuel 12:26-31; the shorter reports of the several heroic acts of David’s warriors in conflict with giants from the land of the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, corresponds with the section 2 Samuel 21:18-22. The statements of 2 Samuel coming between these sections (namely 1 Chronicles9 and 1 Chronicles 11:1-12; 1 Chronicles 11:25; but also 1 Chronicles13, 14-18) are particulars from the private life and domestic history of David, which the Chronist, in conformity with his plan, neither could nor would take up.

1. General Report of David’s Victorious Wars with his Neighbours: 1 Chronicles 18:1-13. 1 Chronicles 18:1 treats of the victories over the Philistines.—And took Gath and her daughters out of the hand of the Philistines. This statement is surprising, because 2 Samuel 8:1 has the more general and withal poetical expression: “and David took the arm-bridle from the hand of the Philistines”( מתג האמה for גת ובנתיה). To assume a purely arbitrary change of text on the part of ourauthor is questionable; and against, at least, a passing seizure of the metropolis Gath with its daughter towns ( 1 Chronicles 7:28) by David, it can scarcely be maintained that in Solomon’s time Gath was again an independent city under its own king.

BI 1-12, "Now after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines.Spoils from EdomIf we have conquered an enemy we must hold the conquest as an illustration of the power of God rather than of the skill of our own might or hand. The idols which we bring away from the lands of darkness are to be set up in God’s house, and are to mark points in the progress of Christian civilisation. They are to be regarded as indications of a universal conquest which Christ has yet to win over the nations of the whole world. If we have brought back spoils—such as art, music, or any form of pleasure by which the popular mind can be touched and moved in an upward direction—we are to remember that in all these spoils we are to see the Divine power, and not proofs of our own military genius. (J. Parker, D. D.)

2 David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

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JAMISON, "he smote Moab — The terrible severities by which David’s conquest of that people was marked, and the probable reason of their being subjected to such a dreadful retribution, are narrated (2Sa_8:2).

the Moabites ... brought gifts — that is, became tributary to Israel.ELLICOTT, " (2) Much abridged, as compared with Samuel. After the words “he smote Moab,” we read there of a partial massacre of the conquered. The emission is scarcely due to any unfair bias on the part of the chronicler. Indeed, as a Jew, possessed with all the national exclusiveness and hatred of the aliens who always misunderstood and sometimes cruelly oppressed his people, he was not likely to regard the slaughter of captive Moabites from a modern point of view. (Comp. Ezra 6:21; Ezra 6:9-10; Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 2:4; Nehemiah 2:6; Nehemiah 2:13) Besides, he has related the cruel treatment of the Ammonite prisoners (1 Chronicles 20:3). (See the prophecy, Numbers 24:17.)And the Moabites became.—Literally, and they became—viz., Moab. The name of the country denotes the people. Samuel has “and Moab [i.e., the country] became” (verb singular feminine).David’s servants.—Samuel, “to David for servants.”And brought gifts.—Literally, bringers of an offering—i.e., tribute. Similar notices are common in the Assyrian inscriptions. (Comp. 1 Kings 4:21; 2 Kings 3:4; and the famous Moabite inscription of which the fragments are now in the Louvre, and which records Mesha’s revolt against the successor of Ahab.)

GUZIK, "2. (1 Chronicles 18:2) The Moabites put under tribute.Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought tribute.a. He defeated Moab: David’s war against Moab, and his harsh treatment of their army seems out of place considering that David’s great-grandmother was a Moabite (Ruth) and that he entrusted his mother and father into the care of the Moabites (1 Samuel 22:3-4). It may be that the Moabites killed or mistreated David’s parents.b. Brought tribute: God did not want Israel to destroy every neighbor nation. Generally, God wanted Israel to be so blessed and strong that other nations were “taxed” by Israel, in recognition of their strength and dominance.PULPIT, "Brought gifts; i.e. in the light of tribute and of acknowledgment of subjection. There are curious additions to this passage in the parallel place, telling the punishment inflicted on Moab: "He smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down

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to the ground [i.e. causing them to lie prostrate]; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive." This appears to mean that he put to death two parts of them, and kept the third part alive. The reason of this deliberate and severe punishment is not stated. Once David and the Moabites had been on very different terms (1 Samuel 22:3, 1 Samuel 22:4; but see also Psalms 60:8).LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:2. And the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts, in short, became tributary subjects ( 1 Chronicles 18:6). Why our author has omitted the notice, following here in 2 Samuel 8:2, of the severe handling of the Moabites by David, is uncertain. It scarcely rests on an apologetic tendency in favour of David; comp. in 1 Chronicles 20:3 the account of the cruel punishment of Rabbath Ammon. Moreover, this war of David with Moab seems to be that in which Benaiah slew the two sons of the king of Moab, 1 Chronicles 11:22.

3 Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at[a] the Euphrates River.

JAMISON, "1Ch_18:3-17. David smites Hadadezer and the Syrians.Hadarezer — or, “Hadadezer” (2Sa_8:3), which was probably the original form of the name, was derived from Hadad, a Syrian deity. It seems to have become the official and hereditary title of the rulers of that kingdom.Zobah — Its situation is determined by the words “unto” or “towards Hamath,” a little to the northeast of Damascus, and is supposed by some to be the same place as in earlier times was called Hobah (Gen_14:15). Previous to the rise of Damascus, Zobah was the capital of the kingdom which held supremacy among the petty states of Syria.as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates — Some refer this to David, who was seeking to extend his possessions in one direction towards a point bordering on the Euphrates, in accordance with the promise (Gen_15:18; Num_24:17). But others are of opinion that, as David’s name is mentioned (1Ch_18:4), this reference is most applicable to Hadadezer.

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BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:3. David smote Hadarezer, as he went to establish his dominion — Such is the uncertainty of this world, that many times men lose their wealth and power, then when they think to confirm them. The meaning of the words, however, may be, that as David went to establish his own dominion, this king of Zobah came out to oppose him, and therefore David smote him. See on 2 Samuel 8:3.EKKICOTT, " (3) Hadarezer.—Samuel, “Hadadezer” (Hadad is help), which is correct. Hadad was a Syrian god, identical with Dadda (Rimmon), worshipped from the Euphrates to Edom and North Arabia. Comp. the royal names Benhadad and Abdadad (i.e., servant of Hadad, like Obadiah, servant of Iahu), which last occurs on Syrian coins, and the Notes on 2 Kings 5:18; 1 Chronicles 1:46. Samuel adds. “son of Rehob.”Zobah unto Hamath.—Rather, Zobah towards Hamath. The word (Hămáthâh; not in Samuel) defines the position of Zobah. (Comp. 2 Samuel 8:8; Ezekiel 47:16.) The town of Zobah lay somewhere near Emesa (Horns), and not far from the present Yabrûd, north-east of Damascus. (The Assyrian monarch Assurbanipal mentions the towns of Yabrudu and Cubiti—i.e., Zobah—in his Annals.) Its kings are spoken of in 1 Samuel 14:47. Hadadezer appears to have brought the whole country under a single sceptre.Hamath.—See 1 Chronicles 13:5, and 2 Chronicles 8:4. The town lay in the valley of the Upper Orontes, west of Zobah, and north of Hermon and Damascus.As he (Hadadezer) went.—The occasion intended appears to be that whereof the particulars are given at 1 Chronicles 19:16-19.To stablish his dominion.—Heb., to set up his hand—i.e., “his power.” Samuel has a different word, to recover his power, or repeat his attack.The river Euphrates.—The Hebrew text of Samuel has “the river.” Our text explains.GUZIK, " (1 Chronicles 18:3-8) David conquers a Syrian alliance.And David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah as far as Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And David also hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the LORD preserved David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from Tibhath and from Chun, cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.

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a. As he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates: The king of Zobah (a Syrian kingdom) ran into David on his way to capture territory to the Euphrates. David’s dominance extended all the way to the Euphrates River.i. “The border of Israel was carried to the line of the Euphrates, so that promise made by God to Abraham was fulfilled: ‘Unto thy seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.’” (Meyer)ii. “Then there was Syria, the great heathen nation to the north, divided into two groups with capitals at Zobah and Damascus. They united together for protection but found themselves helpless against the might of David.” (Redpath)b. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses: This was military necessity instead of mere animal cruelty. David could not care for so many horses while on military campaign and he could not give them back to the enemy.c. He spared enough of them for one hundred chariots: That David kept such a small number shows remarkable self-control and trust in God. David obeyed the principle of Deuteronomy 17:15-16 and absolutely refused to trust in horses as military weapons. His trust was in God instead (Psalms 20:7 and Psalms 33:16-17).d. David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer: David took what was the glory of the enemy and transformed it into trophies of the power and goodness of God. Those shields of gold were now in the temple, testifying to God’s work in and through David.e. David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze: The gathering of this treasure to Jerusalem, later used in the building of the temple, shows the reason why the Chronicler chose particular events from the records of 2 Samuel to emphasize.i. “At first glance, this is a somewhat artificial record of David’s military successes, which has been produced by leaving out the more interesting narratives and those less favourable to David. This view is rather inaccurate, however, since positive elements such as the birth of Solomon, David’s magnanimity to Saul’s family, and David’s psalms are omitted. . . . The reason is that Chronicles has chosen to focus on the relationship of David’s wars with the Davidic covenant and the temple preparations.” (Selman)ii. One needed two things to build the temple: security and money. These chapters show how David, though he could not build the temple himself, obtained the security and money necessary for his son to build the temple.iii. “In view of the desire of the king to build the Temple of God, the chapter is of special interest; it shows how in these wars he was amassing treasure with that purpose in view, not for himself, but for his son.” (Meyer)

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iv. Even when God shuts the door for us to do a work, we may still be vitally involved in it - often by amassing treasure for that work, as David did for the temple his son would build. “To be willing to do the work of preparation, when not permitted to undertake the principle service, is proof of real devotion.” (Morgan)PULPIT, "Hadarezer; in the parallel places, Hadadezer; though our present form is found both in Samuel (e.g. 2 Samuel 10:16) and in other places in Chronicles, yet in all these places some manuscripts show Hadadezer (see Gesenius, 'Lexicon,' sub voce). Zobah. Part of Syria, east of Hamath, and for the most part of Coelo-Syria, north of Damascus, and stretching in the direction of the Euphrates. Possibly it is one with Ptolemy's Zake (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:3-10; 2 Samuel 10:9; 1 Kings 11:23-25). Hamath. In the valley of the Orontes, the northern boundary of the Holy Land. It is traceable from the time of the Exodus (Genesis 10:18; Numbers 13:21; Numbers 34:8) to that of the Prophet Amos (Amos 6:12). Though in Zobah, it is probably not the Hamath-Zobah of 2 Samuel 8:3. To stablish his dominion. In the parallel place, "to restore," i.e; no doubt, to endeavour to do so, and that against the growing force of David. He had already suffered at the hand of Saul (1 Samuel 14:47, 1 Samuel 14:48).LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:3-8. The War with Hadadezer of Zobah.—King of Zobah towards Hamath. This closer determination of the situation of Zobah (חמתה), which is peculiar to our text, places it pretty far north, not far from Hamath, the later Epiphania, on the Orontes; scarcely Haleb or Nisibis, both of which lay farther north than Hamath, and can scarcely, from an Israelitish point of view, be described as lying “towards Hamath” (against the Rabbis of the middle ages on the one hand, and J. D. Mich on the other). Zobah is perhaps = Zabe of Ptolemy; at all events, it is to be sought north or north-east of Damascus (with Ew, Then, Berth, etc.).[FN7] On the spelling peculiar to Chronicles and 2 Samuel 10:16-19, Hadarezer (Sept. ’Αδρααζάρ) see Crit. Note.—As he went to set up his sign at the river Euphrates, to establish his power (properly “hand”) there; comp. 1 Samuel 15:12. Whether these words refer to David or Hadadezer is doubtful; the latter (which J. H. Mich, Ew, Berth, etc, assume) may be the more probable, on account of the mention of David as subject at the beginning of the following verse. The various reading in 2 Samuel 8:3 : להשיב ידו, “to turn his hand,” is perhaps to be amended from our passage, as it gives a less suitable sense.

4 David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

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JAMISON 4-8, "And David took from him a thousand chariots — (See on 2Sa_8:3-14). In 2Sa_8:4 David is said to have taken seven hundred horsemen, whereas here it is said that he took seven thousand. This great discrepancy in the text of the two narratives seems to have originated with a transcriber in confounding the two Hebrew letters which indicate the numbers, and in neglecting to mark or obscure the points over one of them. We have no means of ascertaining whether seven hundred or seven thousand be the more correct. Probably the former should be adopted [Davidson’s Hermenutics].

but reserved of them an hundred chariots — probably to grace a triumphal procession on his return to Jerusalem, and after using them in that way, destroy them like the rest.

COKE, ". David—houghed all the chariot-horses, &c.— David destroyed all the chariots, save a hundred, which he reserved. Houbigant. We observe, once for all, upon these chapters, that having enlarged on the subjects of them in the notes on Samuel, we shall make our annotations on them very short.

ELLICOTT, " (4) A thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen.—Hebrew text of Samuel, “a thousand and seven hundred horsemen.” The territory of Zobah lay somewhere in the great plain of Aram. Hadadezer would, therefore, be strong in chariots and horses, and our reading is probably correct. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 19:18.)Houghed.—Hamstrung—i.e., cut the sinews of the hind legs, so as to disable them.Chariot horses.—The same Hebrew term has just been rendered chariots. It means also chariot soldiers.David reserved a hundred chariots, with their horses, probably for his own use. Horses were always a luxury in Israel. (Comp. Isaiah 2:7.) Solomon recruited his stud from Egypt. (Comp. the prohibition, Deuteronomy 17:16.)

PULPIT, "The parallel place (2 Samuel 8:4) omits, probably by error merely, the word "chariots," and reads for our seven thousand, "seven hundred." As the form of expression in the last two clauses of our present verse is the same in both cases, it

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is more natural to render, David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved a hundred, i.e. a hundred horses unhoughed; he houghed all but a hundred. Our Authorized Version, in the parallel, gets over the difficulty by inserting "for," i.e. enough for, "a hundred chariots."

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. For this 2 Samuel 8:4 has “1700 horsemen and20,000 footmen,” perhaps defectively; after אלף, and before רכב it appears necessary to insert ,ושבע־מאות there, for which also the Sept. speaks. Yet comp. Wellh. on this passage, who questions the insertion of רכב, on account of the close of the verse.—And David lamed all the teams, but reserved of them a thousand teams, for his own use; in fact, therefore, he lamed only900. For this custom of laming (עקר) war-horses, comp. Joshua 11:6; Joshua 11:9.

5 When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.

BENSON, "Verse 5-61 Chronicles 18:5-6. When the Syrians came to help Hadarezer, David slew of the Syrians, &c. — Thus the enemies of God’s church are often made to ruin themselves by helping one another. The Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts — For the wealth of the sinner often proves to have been laid up for the just. The Syrians’ shields of gold, and their brass, were brought to Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 18:7-8. As the tabernacle was built of the spoils of the Egyptians, so the temple of the spoils of other Gentile nations: a happy presage of the interest the Gentiles should have in the gospel church.

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ELLICOTT, " (5) And when the Syrians of Damascus came.—Literally, And Aram of Damascus came. The verb is masculine here, feminine in Samuel. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 18:2.)Damascus.—Heb., Darmèseq, a late form, occurring again in 2 Chronicles 28:5; 2 Chronicles 28:23 (= ancient Dammèseq). In Syriac the name is similar: Darmĕsûq. The Arabic is Dimashqu, the cuneiform Dimashqa or Dimmasqa.David slew of the Syrians.—Literally, smote in Aram. The preposition is partitive.

PULPIT, "The Hebrew text of Damascus, here, next verse, and also 2 Chronicles 28:5, spells the word with a resh, omitting the dagesh forte in the mere following, which Gesenius instances (see his 'Lexicon') as the Syriac orthography.

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:6. And David put in Syria Damascus, men, soldiers, garrison troops. From 2 Samuel 8:6 and 1 Chronicles 18:13 of our chapter the word נציבים appears to have fallen out after וישם דויד; comp. also 1 Chronicles 13:3; 1Samuel 10:5.

6 He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

ELLICOTT, " (6) Put garrisons.—The noun here omitted in the Hebrew, probably 16

by an oversight, occurs in Samuel. In 1 Chronicles 11:16 and 2 Chronicles 17:2 it means “out post,” or “garrison;” in 1 Kings 4:19, “prefects,” or “pashas.” The Targum of Samuel gives strategi, “generals;” Syriac and Arabic, “prefects” and “collectors;” LXX. and Vulg., “garrison.” The Arabic here has “collectors and guards;” the Syriac, “commanders.”Syria-damascus.—Aram of Damascus (1 Chronicles 18:5). (Comp. 1 Chronicles 18:2 for the next clause.)David’s servants.—To David servants—the order in Samuel.Thus.—And.Preserved.—Made victorious.Preserved David.—Samuel has ‘eth-David—i.e., the simple accusative; Chronicles, le-David, a late construction.Whithersoever he went.—Same phrase as in 1 Chronicles 17:6; 1 Chronicles 17:8.Shields.—Shiltê. Probably “armour” or “arms.” (Comp. 2 Kings 11:10; 2 Chronicles 23:9, “the spears, and the shields, and the sh’lâtîm; “Ezekiel 27:11; Song of Solomon 4:4; Jeremiah 51:11, “quivers.”) LXX. here, “golden collars” (Samuel, “bracelets”); Syriac and Arabic, “golden plates which hung on the horses;” Vulg., “quivers (Samuel, “golden arms”).Hadadezer was not dethroned, but became a vassal king.

7 David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem.

PULPIT, "The shields; Hebrew שלט . Much doubt has been entertained as to the meaning of this word. Its etymology is uncertain. Gesenius derives it from a root

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signifying "hardness." For the most part, however, the context of the seven places of its occurrence which he instances (2 Samuel 8:7; 2 Kings 11:10; 1 Chronicles 18:7; 2Chronicles 23:9; So 2 Chronicles 4:4; Jeremiah 51:11; Ezekiel 27:11) favour the rendering "shields," though the quotation from Jeremiah 51:11 (literally, "fill ye the shields") is not so satisfactory. The wealth of Zobah is, of course, illustrated by these shields of gold.LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:7. And David took the arms (or equipments) of gold, ,so rightly the moderns, instead of the golden collars (κλοιοί) of the Sept ;שלטי־הזהבthe quivers (pharetrœ) of the Vulg, and the golden shields of the Chald, of some Rabbis, and of Luther.—Which were on the servants of Hadadezer, his military servants, soldiers. On the addition of the Sept, in 2 Samuel 8:7 relative to the later capture and carrying away of these golden arms by Shishak of Egypt, under Rehoboam, comp. the expositors of that passage.

8 From Tebah[b] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.

ELLICOTT, " (8) Tibhath, and . . . Chun.—Two unknown places. The names in Samuel are Betah and Berothai. Tebah occurs as an Aramean name in Genesis 22:24, of which “Tibhath” is a feminine form, and “Betah” probably a corruption. Syriac, “Tĕbah” and “Bĕrûthi” in both places. So Arabic of Samuel, “Tâbâh” and “Barûti” (here “Himsa” and “Baalbec,” probably by way of an explanation). The readings of the LXX., “Metebak” (or Masbach) in Samuel, and “Matebeth” here, support Tebah. Vulgate in Samuel, “Bete,” but here “Thebath,” obviously equivalent to Tibhath. “Chun” is doubtless corrupt. All the versions support “Berothai” (LXX., “chosen cities;” comp. Heb., bârôth) except Arabic and Vulg.

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here.Much brass.—Copper (as Job 28:2), or bronze (an alloy of copper and tin, which was well known to the ancients). Samuel, “copper in abundance” (harbçh), an older form of expression.Wherewith Solomon made . . .—Not in the Hebrew of Samuel, though LXX. adds it.

PULPIT, "Tibhath, and… Chun. These names replace Betah and Berothai in the parallel place, in the former case with possibility of orthographic explanation, but not in the latter. The purpose for which David was glad to take their brass is not mentioned in Samuel, but only here. The brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass (see 1 Kings 7:14-47; 2 Chronicles 4:1-18). In this latter place these subjects will be found treated more fully. This so-called "brazen sea" ( את־ים הגחשת) took the place in Solomon's temple of (he earlier brazen laver ( כיור גחשת) of the Mosaic ritual (Exodus 21-30:17 ; Le Exodus 8:10, Exodus 8:11; 1 Kings 7:38). It is now called a sea, because of its large size. The use of the original laver is plainly told, for the priests to wash at it their hands and feet before offering sacrifices. It stood in the court of the tabernacle, between the altar and the door. The ten lavers of Solomon's temple were used for washing the sacrificial victims themselves (2 Chronicles 4:6). The brazen sea (which was rather of copper than brass, however) rested upon twelve standing oxen, three turning their faces to each quarter of the heavens. Its height was five cubits, its diameter ten cubits, the thickness of its metal a handbreadth, and its capacity variously given at two thousand baths (1 Kings 7:26) or three thousand (2 Chronicles 4:5). It was removed from its supports of oxen by Ahaz (2 Kings 16:17), and placed on a pedestal of stone. And it was eventually destroyed by the Assyrians (2 Kings 25:13). And the pillars. (For these pillars of the porch, named Jachin and Boaz, see 1 Kings 22-7:15 ; 2 Chronicles 17-3:15 .) And the vessels of brass. (For these, see 1 Kings 51-7:40 ; 2 Chronicles 4:16-

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:8. And from Tibhath and from Chun, etc. Tibhath for which, 2 ,טבח) or, as it is perhaps to be read, Tebah ,(טבחת) Samuel 8, stands erroneously בטח), appears to be identical with the family mentioned, Genesis 22:24, among the descendants of Nahor; whether it be the present Taibeh, on the caravan road between Aleppo and the Euphrates, is questionable. In place of 2בון Samuel gives ברתי(= Barathena, Ptol. v19? or ברתה, Ezekiel 47:16?). On what this diversity of name rests, whether on the corruption of the original ברתי into כון, as Berth. thinks, or on a double name of the place in question, must remain doubtful.—Of which

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Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the brazen vessels. These words, wanting in 2 Samuel 8:8 in the Masoretic text, are perhaps to be restored according to our passage, and according to the Sept. and Vulg.

9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah,

CLARKE, "Tou king of Hamath - Called Toi in 2Sa_8:9.

HENRY 9-17, "Here let us learn, 1. That it is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David's great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble present, 1Ch_18:9, 1Ch_18:10. It is in vain to contend with the Son of David. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest he be angry; let the kings and judges of the earth, and all inferior people too, be thus wise, thus instructed. The presents we are to bring him are not vessels of gold and silver, as here (those shall be welcomed to him who have no such presents to bring), but our hearts and sincere affections, our whole selves, we must present to him as living sacrifices. 2. That what God blesses us with we must honour him with. The presents of his friends, as well as the spoils of his enemies, David dedicated unto the Lord (1Ch_18:11), that is, he laid them up towards the building and enriching of the temple. That is most truly and most comfortably our own which we have consecrated unto the Lord, and which we use for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord,Isa_23:18. 3. That those who take God along with them whithersoever they go may expect to prosper, and be preserved, whithersoever they go. It was said before (1Ch_18:6) and here it is repeated (1Ch_18:13) that the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. Those are always under the eye of God that have God always in their eye. 4. God gives men power, not that they may look great with it, but that they may do good with it. When David reigned over all Israel he executed judgment and justice among all his people, and so answered the end of his elevation. He was not so intent on his conquests abroad as to neglect the administration of justice at home. Herein he served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits in the throne judging right; and he was an eminent type of the Messiah, the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.

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JAMISON 9-13, "Tou — or Toi - whose dominions border on those of Hadadezer. (See on 2Sa_8:9-12; see on 1Ki_11:15).ELLICOTT, "(9) Now when . . .—And Tou king of Hamath heard. Samuel, “Toi.” The Hebrew letters answering to w and y are often confused in MSS. Tô-û is right; so LXX. and Vulg. in Samuel; Syriac, “Thû‘;” Arabic, “Tû‘u;” The Syriac here has “Phûl king of the Antiochenes” (!); the Arabic, “Phâwîl king of Antioch,” an apparent allusion to Pul the Assyrian (1 Chronicles 5:26). Professor Sayce believes he has read the name Tu-ve-es—that is, Toü—on the stones from Hamath, now in the British Museum.

GUZIK, " (1 Chronicles 18:9-13) The glory and security of David’s kingdom.

Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him (for Hadadezer had been at war with Tou); and Hadoram brought with him all kinds of articles of gold, silver, and bronze. King David also dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold that he had brought from all these nations; from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek. Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

a. Tou . . . sent Hadoram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him: Neighboring nations saw the hand of God on David and brought him honor and gifts. They knew that a strong, godly leader of Israel was good for the whole community of nations, not just good for Israel itself.

i. Not every pagan nation surrounding Israel was hostile to Israel or their God, and David did not treat them as if they were hostile. We make a mistake if we treat every unbeliever as an openly hostile enemy of the Lord.

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ii. “Tou’s son was probably called Hadoram rather than ‘Joram’ (2 Samuel 8:10), since the latter’s Yahwistic form is unlikely in a non-Israelite state.” (Selman)

b. King David also dedicated these to the LORD: When David received this acclaim from the nations he dedicated it all to the LORD. He knew that the praise and glory belonged to God, not himself. David could handle success as well as apparent failure.

c. From Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek: By citing these subdued nations we learn that David’s victories were complete. God used David to lead Israel to victory over enemies in every direction.

i. Israel possessed more of the land God promised to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) under David’s reign than at any other time.

ii. David was able to accomplish so much against God’s enemies because he, unlike Saul, was not consumed with fighting against the people of God

d. The LORD preserved David wherever he went: This is the summary of this whole chapter. Every victory and every enemy subdued was a testimony to the Lord’s preserving power in the life and reign of David.

10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of

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silver and of bronze.

BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:10. He sent Hadoram his son to King David, &c. — It is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them, as this king of Hamath, hearing of David’s great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble present, judging it in vain to oppose one whose cause God so evidently espoused. And is it not still more in vain to contend with the son of David? Reader, kiss the Son lest he be angry: let the kings and judges of the earth, and all inferior people, be thus wise, thus instructed. The presents which we are to bring to him are not vessels of gold and silver, as here: those shall be welcome to him, who have no such presents to bring: but our hearts and affections; ourselves, our whole selves we must present to him as living sacrifices.

ELLICOTT, " (10) He sent.—Heb., and he sent.Hadoram.—Samuel, “and Toi sent Joram” (LXX., “Jeddûram”). Vulg., “Adoram;” but Syriac and Arabic, “Joram.” Hadoram, or Adoram (Hadar or Adar, is high), seems right; but Joram, i.e., Jehoram (Jehovah is high), may be correct, for it appears from an inscription of Sargon that the God of Israel was not unknown to the Hamathites. Sargon calls their king Iahu-bihdi.To congratulate.—Bless—i.e., pronounce him happy.Had war with Tou.—A man of wars (a foeman) of Tou was Hadadezer.And . . . all manner . . .—Samuel, “and in his hand [were] vessels of silver, and vessels of gold,” &c. The clause is here curtailed.

PULPIT, "Hadoram. In the parallel place written Joram. The Septuagint has the name spelt with d in both places, which has led to the suggestion that possibly the real name was Jedorum. Josephus suggests that Tou had been brought into subjection by Hadadezer, and wished by his present congratulations and valuable gifts to ingratiate himself with David for a purpose. Had war; literally, was a man of war; i.e. he had shown his addictedness to war, or had warred abundantly with Tou.

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It is evident that Tou had generally fared the worst in their encounters.

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:10. And he sent Hadoram his son. 2Samuel: “Joram,” at all events incorrect, as a name compounded with יהוה would scarcely have suited a member of a Syrian royal house; and the Sept. gives there ’Ιεδδουράμ(here’Αδουράμ)—To greet him, to wish him health. So is לשאל־לו לשלוםto be taken, according to the parallel passages, as Genesis 43:27, not, with the Sept. and Vulg, in the sense of a prayer for peace (ut postulant ab eo pacem).—For Ton was at war with Hadadezer, literally, “For Hadadezer was a man of wars of Tou,” a constant assailant and adversary to him; comp. 1 Chronicles 28:3; Isaiah 42:13. After these words, which form a parenthetical explanation to the foregoing, follows the wider object of וישלח: “and all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass,” which Luther erroneously refers to 1 Chronicles 18:11.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.

BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:11. Them also King David dedicated to the Lord — Not only the spoils of his enemies, but the presents of his friends, he devoted to God, and laid up toward the building and enriching of the temple. Thus, we must honour God with that wherewith he blesseth us. And, indeed, that is most truly and most comfortably our own, which we have consecrated to the Lord, and which we use for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord.

ELLICOTT, " (11) He brought.—Samuel, “dedicated.” Chronicles avoids the 24

tautology.These nations.—The nations—scil., “whom he had reduced” (Samuel).From Edom.—Samuel, “from Aram,” but LXX., Syriac, and Arabic, “Edom;” (Targum and Vulg., “Aram”). All the versions read “Edom” here, which appears correct. Edom and Moab were conterminous, and the reference includes all the nations whom David conquered and despoiled.And from Amalek may refer to 1 Samuel 30:16, seq., but more probably to an unrecorded campaign. Samuel adds, “and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah,” which Chronicles omits, as implied already in 1 Chronicles 18:7-8.

PARKER, ""Them also king David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek" ( 1 Chronicles 18:11).

The spoils which we take in war are not ours but God"s. Nothing that David took was to be used tor the decoration of his own house, or the increase of his own ostentation in the eyes of his people: all that his right hand plucked from the enemy was to be set up in the house of the Lord. So it is in the Christian warfare. If we have conquered an enemy we must hold the conquest as an illustration of the power of God rather than of the skill of our own might or hand. The idols which we bring away from the lands of darkness are to be set up in God"s house, and are to mark points in the progress of Christian civilisation. They are not to be laughed at or mocked; they are to be solemnly regarded as indications of a universal conquest which Christ has yet to win over the nations of the whole world. If we have brought back spoils—such as art, music, or any form of pleasure by which the popular mind can be reached and moved in an upward direction—we are to remember that in all these spoils we are to see the divine power and not proofs of our own military genius. Where Music has been abused, let the Church go forth and rescue the angel from the hands of those who have ill-treated her, and let that angel come and sing within the shadow of the altar; if Art has been prostituted so as to minister to the lustful eye or the degenerate heart, let her be rescued from her tormentors, and be brought into the Church to add some new beauty to all that is rare and choice and delicate in the treasures of the sanctuary. The whole object of the Christian life

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should be to enlarge the Church in the best sense; to increase its treasures, to add to its spoils, to prove its energies, and to uphold and vindicate the claim that the Church has within herself all that is needful to release men from the burden of sin, and give them all the joy of the highest service and all the comfort of the truest and deepest consolation. The Church of God should be the richest of all institutions, the very focus of all light, the very home of all goodness.

PULPIT, "From Edom. This is probably the correct reading, and not, as in the parallel, "from Aram," unless, as some think, both places were named in the original authority. From the children of Ammon. Perhaps the events narrated in our succeeding chapter are here referred to by the compiler. From Amalek (see 1 Samuel 30:1-20, 1 Samuel 30:26-31).

LANGE, " 1 Chronicles 18:11. With the silver and the gold that he had taken. For 2אשר נשא Samuel presents אשר הקדיש, perhaps the original form.—From all the

nations . . . and from Amalek. In 2 Samuel a more complete and probable text is found (in which, besides, מאדם is to be read for מארם.1 Chronicles 13-18:12 . Abshai’s Victory over the Edomites in the Valley of Salt.—And Abshai . . . slew of Edom (literally, “slew Edom”) in the valley of salt, 18,000 men. In Bertheau’s combination of the very different reading in 2 Samuel 8:13 with our passage, for “Abshai son of Zeruiah” would have to be read “Joab, etc,” and after “slew of Edom” would have fallen out the words “when he (Joab) returned from the conquest of Aram.” Otherwise Ew, Then, Wellh, Keil, etc, the latter of whom upholds the statement of Chronicles, that Abshai gained this victory, by reference to 1 Chronicles 10:10 ff. of our book (where Abshai appears as commander under his brother Joab), and declares it consistent as well with Psalm 60:2 as with 1 Kings 11:15.

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

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CLARKE, "Abishai - slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, 2Sa_8:13. He sent Abishai against them, and he defeated them: this is with great propriety attributed to David as commander-in-chief; qui facit per alterum, facit per se.ELLICOTT, " (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. 1 Kings 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.—2 Kings 14:7.ELLICOTT, "Verse 12-13(12, 13) The reduction of Edom. The paragraph mark should be at 1 Chronicles 18:12, not 1 Chronicles 18:13.COFFMAN, "These verses are parallel with 2 Samuel 8:1-14; and we have devoted nine pages to a discussion of these verses in my commentary on Second Samuel, pp. 99-108. The Chronicler made no mention of David's extreme cruelty to the Moabites; but otherwise there are few variations.

PULPIT,, "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" (1 Chronicles 18:15), who is spoken of (1 Kings 11:15, 1 Kings 11:16) as very trenchant in this Edomite war, without any mention being made of Abishai. Psalms 60:1-12. (title) probably speaks of an instalment of the eighteen

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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 גיא (Psalms 23:4), not the more generic word עמק, and signifies rather "ravine." The phrase occurs twice with the article expressed, The place is celebrated also for the achievements of Amaziah (in references .גיא חמלחjust given), who proceeded hence with ten thousand prisoners, to precipitate them down the cliff, i.e. Petra ( 2, הסלע 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.

13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:13. The Lord preserved David whithersoever he went — Those who take God along with them wherever they go, may expect to prosper and be preserved in all places. And those are always under the eye of God, that have God always in their eye.

ELLICOTT, " (13) And he put garrisons (or “prefects,” 1 Chronicles 18:6) in Edom.—Samuel adds, “in all Edom he set garrisons,” thus marking the complete subjugation of the country.Thus the Lord preserved David.—See 1 Chronicles 18:6. David was victorious on all

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sides, north (1 Chronicles 18:3-8), and south, and east, and west (1 Chronicles 18:11). The six peoples whom he reduced had been the foes of his ill-fated predecessor (1 Samuel 14:47-48).

David’s Officials

14 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.

BENSON, "1 Chronicles 18:14. So David reigned, and executed judgment and justice among the people — And therefore answered the end of his elevation; and served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits in the throne judging right. Thus also he became an eminent type of the Messiah, the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.

ELLICOTT, " (14) Executed.—Was doing; a permanent state of things.Judgment and justice.—Right and justice. The former is the quality, the latter the conduct which embodies it.Among.—For, or unto.

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COFFMAN, "These verses are parallel with 2 Samuel 8:15-18; and we have written five pages of comments on these verses in that commentary, pp. 108-112. Special attention is there devoted to the apparent conflict of 1 Chronicles 18:17 here with 2 Samuel 8:18. It is resolved in the fact that there was an early meaning of the word incorrectly translated "priest," in 2Samuel, which was sometimes used for administrator, which is the office meant in both references.

GUZIK, "David’s administration.1. (1 Chronicles 18:14) A general description of David’s government.So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people.a. So David reigned: This chapter of victory, blessing, and prosperity describes the national life of Israel during the reign of David. This is one reason why he is generally regarded as the greatest king or ruler Israel ever had.i. This is how God wanted to reign in the life of Saul, but Saul resisted the Lord and rejected His Spirit. Because David allowed God to subdue Him, the nations were subdued before David.b. Administered judgment and justice to all his people: This shows that David was a great king to his own people, not only against neighboring nations. He fulfilled what is the fundamental duty of government - to administer judgment and justice (Romans 13:1-7).

LANGE, " 1 Chronicles 18:14. And all the Edomites became servants of David. For this 2 Samuel has more fully, and perhaps originally: “and in all Edom he appointed officers; and all the Edomites became David’s servants.”2. David’s Officers of State: 1 Chronicles 18:14-17,—a list in 2 Samuel8 also appended to the above summary war reports ( = 2 Samuel 8:15-18), that was certainly found here in the old common sources of both authors, introduced by the general remark on the ability and excellence of the government of David ( 1 Chronicles 18:14).BI, "So David reigned over all Israel, and executed Judgment and Justice.

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I. The victories of peace are nobler and more enduring than those of war. We are very familiar with David the warrior. His early triumph over Goliath put his name into the mouth and songs of Israel. It had been a little thing if he had only vanquished the enemies of Israel. When this was done his truest, noblest works began. He encouraged the people to careful cultivation of their fields by carefully cultivating his own. He would have nothing lost. The waste land must be reclaimed. His stewards must give exact account of their stewardship. Commerce, with its increase of comforts, is quickened. Architecture is improved; huts give way to houses. Arrangements are made for due and prompt administration of justice in all parts of the country. The health and education of the people the king remembers and provides for. These were right royal undertakings, and “became” David “better than his crown.” Wars fill a large and loud place in history. The works of peace are silent, unobtrusive. Picturesque pens may describe a battle in which thousands perish, but how little can they describe the battle waged by sanitary officers and medical men against disease and its causes by which thousands, ten thousands, are saved!II. The blessing of a wise administrator to a nation. David was a true ruler of men. Not only by possession of a personal charm which attached trusty friends to him, but also by devising those measures which were for the wider well-being of the people. He had eminently the faculty of government like many other great men of his nation—Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Hezekiah, Daniel. When rulers are wise, and, like David, know “what they ought to do,” this, too, is one of God’s gifts to men.III. The importance of psalmody in Divine worship. Psalmody, as an institution, owes its origin to David. In chap. 25. we can see with what care it was instituted.IV. The beauty of friendship is seen in david’s treatment of mephibosheth.

15 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;

CLARKE, "Joab - was over the host - General-in-chief.Jehoshaphat - recorder - The king’s remembrancer, or historiographer royal.

ELLICOTT, " (15) Recorder.—Literally, Remembrancer. LXX and Vulg. render the word “over, or writer of, memoranda.” Syriac and Arabic of Samuel have “leader,” “director;” here they render literally. (Comp. 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Chronicles 34:8.)

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GUZIK, " (1 Chronicles 18:15-17) Key people in David’s government.

Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha was the scribe; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers at the king’s side.

a. Joab . . . Jehoshaphat . . . Zadok . . . Abimelech . . . Shavsha . . . Benaiah: No great ruler succeeds by himself. Only the smallest organizations can be governed well without a gifted and committed team. Part of David’s success as a ruler was in his ability to assemble, train, empower, and maintain such a team.

i. We never find such a list regarding the organization of King Saul’s government. This is because David’s government had much more form and structure than Saul’s.

ii. There is a limit to what we can be and what we can do for the LORD without order and organization. It isn’t that order and organization are requirements for progress in the Christian life; they are progress in the Christian life, becoming more like the LORD.

iii. Nothing is accomplished in God’s kingdom without order and organization. While it may seem so to us, it is only an illusion - behind the scenes God is moving with utmost order and organization though sometimes we cannot see it.

b. Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests: There were two priestly centers at this time, thus two priests. One was at Gibeon, with the tabernacle of Moses and the altar of burn offering. The other was at Jerusalem, with the special tent David made for the ark of the covenant. Thus there were two priests, Zadok and Abiathar.

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c. The Cherethites and Pelethites: These were hired soldiers from Crete. “By employing foreign guards to ensure the safety of the king David would minimize the possibility of becoming the victim of inter-tribal rivalries; these men from Crete could give whole-hearted allegiance to him.” (Baldwin, commentary on 2 Samuel 8)

PULPIT, "Recorder. The word is of the same root with that in 1 Chronicles 16:4, "to record." The exact duties and position of this officer are not stated in any one place, but may be gathered from 2 Samuel 8:16; 2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 18:18, 2 Kings 18:37; 2 Chronicles 34:8. From these notices, belonging to somewhat separate times, we may gather the dignity and responsibility and trust of the office which the recorder filled, altogether in excess of his duty as mere historical secretary.

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:15. For Joab, comp. on 1 Chronicles 2:16.—Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder.מזכיר, properly “remembrancer,” that Isaiah, not annalist (Sept. ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν ὑπομνημάτων Vulg. a commentariis), but chancellor, who makes to the king a report of all that takes place in the kingdom, and conveys his commands; comp. the magister memoriœ of the later Romans, and the Waka Nuvis in the Persian court (Chardin, Voyages, v. p258).

16 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[c] son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;

CLARKE, "Zadok - and Abimelech - priests - Both high priests; one at Gibeon, and the other at Jerusalem, as we have seen 1Ch_16:39.

Shavsha was scribe - Called Seraiah, 2Sa_8:17.

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COKE, "1 Chronicles 18:16. Abimelech, the son of Abiathar— Read, as in the parallel place, Ahimelech. Some inconsiderately would read, Abiathar, the son of

Ahimelech; when that Ahimelech, who was the son of Abiathar, is mentioned, ch. 1 Chronicles 24:6 and in other places, and was another man. Houbigant.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, David's conquests here recorded, we had 2 Samuel 8. They followed upon the prayer and promise of the preceding chapter; for, they who have God for their friend have nothing to fear from their enemies. Note; (1.) Such shall be the believer's victories over all his corruptions: though they are numerous, and often return to the attack, yet sin shall not prevail against him. (2.) The associated forces of earth and hell in vain oppose God's church; it shall stand triumphant at last over every foe. (3.) Shields of gold cannot defend us; but the shield of faith never faileth.

2nd, They who are prosperous, like David, will be courted; but a true friend is best known in adversity. Tou counted David's favour well worth the most valuable present that he could send him; and shall we not be more solicitous to secure him for our friend, whose favour is better than life itself, and which may be obtained without price or present? David's government appears to be as excellent as his victories were glorious; and no wonder, when God prospered him in every undertaking. The son of David rules with greater equity, as well as enjoys a more universal dominion: happy the people who are subjects of his righteous government, and enjoy his divine protection.

ELLICOTT, " (16) Zadok, of the line of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:4-8). (Comp. 1 Chronicles 12:28; 1 Chronicles 16:39; 2 Samuel 8:17; 2 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 19:11; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 4:4.)Abimelech the son of Abiathar.—Read Ahimelech the son of Abiathar. Samuel has “Ahimelech the son of Abiathar.” Elsewhere Zadok and Abiathar figure as the priests of David’s reign (comp. 2 Samuel 15:29; 2 Samuel 15:35), and as Abiathar

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was a son of the Ahimelech who was slain at Nob by Saul’s orders (1 Samuel 22:20), it has been proposed to read here and in the parallel passage,” Abiathar the son of Ahimelech.” The correction, however, is far from certain, inasmuch as an “Ahimelech son of Abiathar,” who was priest in David’s time, is mentioned thrice in 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 24:6; 1 Chronicles 24:31, and this Ahimelech may have been acting as locum tenens for his father at the time when this brief list was drawn up. In the absence of details, it would be arbitrary to alter the text of four different passages of the Chronicles. In Samuel the Syriac and Arabic read “Abiathar son of Ahimelech,” but here LXX., Vulg., Syriac, Arabic, all have “Ahimelech son of Abiathar.”Abiathar was of the lineage of Ithamar.Shavsha.—Besides the variants in the margin, 2 Samuel 20:25 has “Shĕva” (Heb. margin, Shĕya). Seraiah (with which comp. Israel) appears to be the original name. (Comp. Syriac and Arabic, “Sarîyâ.”)PULPIT, "Abimelech the son of Abiathar. The reading in the parallel place is, "Abimelech the son of Abiathar," as also in 1 Chronicles 24:6; but comparison of 1 Samuel 22:20; 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 1:7, 1 Kings 1:8, suggests that the right reading would be "Abiathar the son of Ahimelech." With this Mark 2:26 agrees, and tells of a correct manuscript, from which, indirectly, the quotation came. Shavsha. The parallel place reads Seraiaha; 2 Samuel 20:25 reads Sheva; and 1 Kings 4:3 reads Shisha. The differences are probably due simply to errors of transcription. Scribe. The historical development of this title is obscure, and not easy to trace. The use of some form or other of the root is abundantly frequent from the times of the earliest parts of Scripture, in the sense of "numbering," or "declaring," or "recording." Perhaps our title of "secretary" would answer sufficiently to it, and all the better, because the Old Testament scribes were also of different leading kinds, like in some degree to our various secretaries of state. There was the kind of scribe of 5:14—where our Authorized Version is far from the mark, and should rather read "the staff of the scribe," in place of "the pen of the writer"—a military officer, whose duty it was to keep the muster-roll. There was the scribe of 2 Kings 25:19—a passage which throws light on the former (see also Isaiah 33:18; Jeremiah 52:25). There were the scribes of a more literary, lawyer-like, or clerk-like kind, as here, and in the parallel place, and in 2 Samuel 20:25; 1 Kings 4:3; 1 Chronicles 2:55. In the time of Hezekiah, if not before, the scribes became distinctly a class of men (Proverbs 25:1; Jeremiah 8:8); and the times of the Captivity greatly enlarged their importance. Their exact duties in the best times of the monarchy are not laid down, but the dignified place the king's scribe held is

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evident from the company in which he is placed here and in the parallel passage.

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:16. For Zadok, comp. on 1 Ch5:30 ff.—Abimelech the son of Abiathar. For אבימל is certainly to be read, with the Sept, Vulg, and 2Samuel 8:17, אחימל; for so is this priest called in 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 24:6; 1 Chronicles 24:31, where he is likewise named as the representative of Ithamar with Zadok of Eleazar, and where he appears as the son of Abiathar. That Abiathar’s father was also called Ahimelech, 1 Samuel 22:20, does not warrant the assumption that in our passage, as in24, there is an exchange of the father and the son; and thus a transposition of the names into “Abiathar the son of Ahimelech” is necessary (as Movers, Then, Ew, Wellh. think). Rather is our Ahimelech to be regarded as a son of the same name with his grandfather, according to the known Hebrew custom, who, even during his father’s lifetime, acted in the priestly office. Comp. the frequent recurrence of the grandfather’s name in the grandson in 1Ch5:30–41.—And Shavsha was scribe, that Isaiah, secretary of state. This Shavsha (Luth. “Sausa”) is called in 1 Kings 4:3 Shisha (שישא, differing only in spelling from but in 2 ,(שושא Samuel 20:25 שיא(שוא( If 2 Samuel 8:17 exhibits שריה, this is to be considered, perhaps, an error of the pen.

17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

CLARKE, "Cherethites and the Pelethites - See the note on 2Sa_8:18.The Targum says, “Benaiah was over the great Sanhedrin and the small Sanhedrin, and consulted Urim and Thummim. And at his command the archers and slingers went to battle.”The sons of David - These were the highest in authority.

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JAMISON, "the Cherethites and the Pelethites — who formed the royal bodyguard. The Cherethites were, most probably, those brave men who all along accompanied David while among the Philistines, and from that people derived their name (1Sa_30:14; Eze_25:16; Zep_2:5) as well as their skill in archery - while the Pelethites were those who joined him at Ziklag, took their name from Pelet, the chief man in the company (1Ch_12:3), and, being Benjamites, were expert in the use of the sling.

ELLICOTT, " (17) Cherethites and the Pelethites.—2 Samuel 8:18. The royal body-guard, for which office Oriental kings have always employed foreign mercenaries. Josephus calls them the body-guard (Antiq. vii. 5, § 4). The names are tribal in form, and as the Cherethites recur (Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5) in connection with the Philistines (comp. 1 Samuel 30:14), and the name Pelethites resembles that of Philistines, it is natural to assumo that David’s guard was recruited from two Philistine tribes. (Comp. 2 Samuel 15:18, where the Cherethites and Pelethites are mentioned along with a corps of Gittites.) The Targum of Samuel, and Syriac and Arabic of Chronicles, render “archers and slingers.”Chief about the king.—Heb., the first at the king’s hand, or side, a paraphrase of what we read in Samuel: “were chief rulers” (kôhănîm). Kôhănîm is the common and only word for “priests,” and has just occurred in that sense (1 Chronicles 18:16). In 1 Kings 4:5, as well as here, the term is said to denote not a sacerdotal, but a secular “minister.” But this theory seems to be opposed to the facts of history. Under the monarchy the priests were brought into close relations with the king, owing to their judicial duties; and the chief priest of a royal sanctuary became one of the great officials of state (Amos 7:11; Amos 7:13). Such a position would be of sufficient importance to be filled by the princes of the blood. The chronicler, writing from the point of view of a later age, has substituted for the original term a phrase that would not offend contemporary feeling. In Samuel the LXX. renders “chief courtiers;” the other versions have “magnates,” except the Vulg., which has “priests.” Syriac of Chronicles, “magnates.”

PULPIT, "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (see 1 Chronicles 11:22-25; 1 Chronicles 12:27; 2 Samuel 23:20-23). The Cherethites and the Pelethites. Two tribes of Philistines whom David attached. The meaning and derivation of these two names leave it possible to translate them at once, and to read, "the public executioners, and the public couriers," not treating them as proper names, and to this course Geseuius (see 'Lexicon') gives his sanction. On the other hand, a comparison of 1 Samuel 30:14 and 2 Samuel 15:18 would lead us to treat them as the names of people,

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although the Pelethites are net as identifiable in this sense as the Cherethites and Gittites. Anyway, it is evident they were the special guard of the king, and were faithful to David and to Solomon after him. Their duties included those of the executioner or lictor, and the courier. They are frequently mentioned on special occasions of the king's moving, and of danger (2 Samuel 15:18; 2 Samuel 20:7, 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Kings 1:38, 1 Kings 1:44). Chief about the king. The Hebrew text here is הראשגים . The word used in the parallel place is כחנים, which signifies strictly "priests," but sometimes more generally" princes." This is, without doubt, the meaning of our text.

LANGE, "1 Chronicles 18:17. And Benaiah . . . was over the Cherethi and the Pelethi. So also 2 Samuel 8:18, with the more correct reading על הכרתי for והכר׳, as in 2 Samuel 20:23. That “Cherethi and Pelethi” denote the two divisions of the royal guard (the σωματοφύλακες, Joseph. Antiq.vii54) is undoubted, though, with Gesen, Then, Bähr (on 1 Kings 1:36), Keil, etc, the former name be explained by confossores, lictores, executioners, the latter by celeres, ἄγγαροι, runners (couriers), and thus both appellatively, for which the passages 1 Kings 2:25, 2 Kings 11:1 appear to speak, or though (with Lakemacher, Movers, Ew, Berth, Hitz, etc.) they be regarded as the nationalities of the Cretans (Carians) and the Philistines. Comp. the latest discussion of this controversy by J. G. Müller (Die Semiten in ihrem Verhaltniss zu Chamiten und Japhetiten, 1872, p 263 ff.), who decides for the latter interpretation. For Benaiah, comp. also 1 Chronicles 11:22 ff.—And David’s sons were the chief beside the king, the next to him. In 2 Samuel 8:18 the ancient term privy counsellors, is chosen to designate the high rank of the royal princes ,כהנים(comp. 1 Kings 4:5).

Footnotes:

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1 Chronicles 18:3 Or to restore his control over 1 Chronicles 18:8 Hebrew Tibhath, a variant of Tebah 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek

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