1 Chronicles 18
Darby Translation (DARBY) · English
1 And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote the Moabites; and the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts. 3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah, at Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David houghed all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] a hundred chariots. 5 And the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, and David smote of the Syrians twenty-two thousand men. 6 And David put [garrisons] in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts. And Jehovah 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 And from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, David took very much brass, of which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. 9 And Tou king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the forces of Hadarezer king of Zobah; 10 and he sent Hadoram his son to king David to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him; for Hadarezer was continually at war with Tou; [he sent] also all manner of vessels of gold and silver and bronze. 11 Them also king David dedicated to Jehovah, with the silver and the gold that he had brought from all the nations: from the Edomites, and from the Moabites, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from the Amalekites. 12 And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. 13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all they of Edom became servants to David. And Jehovah preserved David whithersoever he went. 14 And David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice to all his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chronicler; 16 and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; 17 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were the first at the king's hand.
Commentary — not Bible text
1 Chronicles 18:1
Introduction
David smites the Philistines, and takes Gath, 1Chr 18:1. Reduces the Moabites, 1Chr 18:2. Vanquishes Hadarezer, king of Zobah, 1Chr 18:3, 1Chr 18:4. Overcomes the Syrians of Damascus, and takes several of their cities, 1Chr 18:5-8. Tou, king of Hamath, congratulates him on his victory, and sends him vessels of silver, gold, and brass, 1Chr 18:9, 1Chr 18:10. Those and the different spoils he had taken from the conquered nations, he dedicates to God, 1Chr 18:11. Abishai defeats the Edomites, 1Chr 18:12, 1Chr 18:13. David reigns over all Israel, 1Chr 18:14. His officers, 1Chr 18:15-17.
Verse 1
David - took Gath and her towns - See the comparison between this chapter and 2Sam 8:1 (note), etc., in the notes on the latter.
1 Chronicles 18:2-8
Verse 2
Brought gifts - Were laid under tribute.
1 Chronicles 18:9-11
Verse 9
Tou king of Hamath - Called Toi in 2Sam 8:9.
1 Chronicles 18:12-14
Verse 12
Abishai - slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, 2Sam 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.
1 Chronicles 18:15
Verse 15
Joab - was over the host - General-in-chief.
Jehoshaphat - recorder - The king's remembrancer, or historiographer royal.
1 Chronicles 18:16
Verse 16
Zadok - and Abimelech - priests - Both high priests; one at Gibeon, and the other at Jerusalem, as we have seen 1Chr 16:39.
Shavsha was scribe - Called Seraiah, 2Sam 8:17.
1 Chronicles 18:17
Verse 17
Cherethites and the Pelethites - See the note on 2Sam 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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