1 Chronicles 18.
Commentary (4)
Adam Clarke
David smites the Philistines, and takes Gath, Ch1 18:1. Reduces the Moabites, Ch1 18:2. Vanquishes Hadarezer, king of Zobah, Ch1 18:3, Ch1 18:4. Overcomes the Syrians of Damascus, and takes several of their cities, Ch1 18:5-8. Tou, king of Hamath, congratulates him on his victory, and sends him vessels of silver, gold, and brass, Ch1 18:9, Ch1 18:10. Those and the different spoils he had taken from the conquered nations, he dedicates to God, Ch1 18:11. Abishai defeats the Edomites, Ch1 18:12, Ch1 18:13. David reigns over all Israel, Ch1 18:14. His officers, Ch1 18:15-17.
1. David - took Gath and her towns - See the comparison between this chapter and Sa2 8:1 (note), etc., in the notes on the latter.
2–8. Brought gifts - Were laid under tribute.
9–11. Tou king of Hamath - Called Toi in Sa2 8:9.
12–14. Abishai - slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, Sa2 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.
15. Joab - was over the host - General-in-chief.
Jehoshaphat - recorder - The king's remembrancer, or historiographer royal.
16. Zadok - and Abimelech - priests - Both high priests; one at Gibeon, and the other at Jerusalem, as we have seen Ch1 16:39.
Shavsha was scribe - Called Seraiah, Sa2 8:17.
17. Cherethites and the Pelethites - See the note on Sa2 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.
John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 18
The eighteenth and nineteenth chapters are the same with Sa2 8:1 with very little variations, which are observed in the notes on them, to which the reader is referred.
1. See Chapter Introduction
Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 19
JFB
DAVID SUBDUES THE PHILISTINES AND MOABITES. (Ch1 18:1-2)
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 (Sa2 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.
2. 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 (Sa2 8:2).
the Moabites . . . brought gifts--that is, became tributary to Israel.
3. DAVID SMITES HADADEZER AND THE SYRIANS. (Ch1 18:3-17)
Hadarezer--or, "Hadadezer" (Sa2 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 (Ch1 18:4), this reference is most applicable to Hadadezer.
4–7. And David took from him a thousand chariots--(See on Sa2 8:3-14). In Sa2 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.
8. from Tibhath and from Chun--These places are called Betah and Berothai (Sa2 8:8). Perhaps the one might be the Jewish, the other the Syrian, name of these towns. Neither their situation nor the connection between them is known. The Arabic version makes them to be Emesa (now Hems) and Baal-bek, both of which agree very well with the relative position of Zobah.
9–16. Tou--or Toi--whose dominions border on those of Hadadezer. (See on Sa2 8:9-12; Kg1 11:15).
17. 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 (Sa1 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 (Ch1 12:3), and, being Benjamites, were expert in the use of the sling.
Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 19
Matthew Henry
David's piety and his prayer we had an account of in the foregoing chapter; here follows immediately that which one might reasonably expect, an account of his prosperity; for those that seek first the kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, as David did, shall have other things added to them as far as God sees good for them. Here is, I. His prosperity abroad. He conquered the Philistines (Ch1 18:1), the Moabites (Ch1 18:2), the king of Zobah (Ch1 18:3, Ch1 18:4), the Syrians (Ch1 18:5-8), made the king of Hamath his tributary (Ch1 18:9-11), and the Edomites (Ch1 18:12, Ch1 18:13). II. His prosperity at home. His court and kingdom flourished (Ch1 18:14-17). All this we had an account of before, 2 Sa. 8.
1–8. After this, it is said (Ch1 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 Philistines had, for several generations, been vexatious to Israel, but now David subdued them, Ch1 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, Ch1 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, Ch1 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, Ch1 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 sinner sometimes proves to have been laid up for the just. The Syrians brought gifts, Ch1 18:6. Their shields of gold and their brass were brought to Jerusalem, Ch1 18:7, Ch1 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.
9. 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, Ch1 18:9, Ch1 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 (Ch1 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 (Ch1 18:6) and here it is repeated (Ch1 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.