1 Chronicles · Chapter 18
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.
And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
Adam Clarke
Verse 2. Brought gifts] Were laid under tribute.
And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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.
Joseph Sutcliffe
Verse 3. Zobah is placed a few leagues east of Palmyra in the old maps; and Hamath, as in 1 Chronicles 12:5. See the illustrations in 2 Samuel 8.
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.
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
Joseph Benson
Verses 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, verses 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.
Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
Joseph Benson
Verses 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, verses 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.
And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
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.
Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;
Adam Clarke
Verse 9. Tou king of Hamath] Called Toi in 2 Samuel 8:9.
He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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.
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.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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.
Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.
Adam Clarke
Verse 12. Abishai-slew of the Edomites] This victory is attributed to David, 2 Samuel 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.
And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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.
Joseph Sutcliffe
Ver. 13. He put garrisons in Edom. Here was a fulfilment of the words of the Lord to Rachel, concerning the posterity of her twins, that the elder should serve the younger. The seed of Esau were now compelled to serve the seed of Jacob.
So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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.
And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.
Adam Clarke
Verse 15. Joab-was over the host] General-in-chief. Jehoshaphat-recorder.] The king’s remembrancer, or historiographer royal.
And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;
Adam Clarke
Verse 16. Zadok-and Abimelech-priests] Both high priests; one at Gibeon, and the other at Jerusalem, as we have seen 1 Chronicles 16:39.
Shavsha was scribe] Called Seraiah, 2 Samuel 8:17.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.
Adam Clarke
Verse 17. Cherethites and the Pelethites] See Clarke’s note on “2 Samuel 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. I CHRONICLES
Adam Clarke
Verse 1. David-took Gath and her towns] See the comparison between this chapter and 2 Samuel 8:1, &c., in the notes on the latter.
Joseph Benson
Verse 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 parts of it.