1 Chronicles 18:1-17 - Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

1 Chronicles 18:3. 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.

1 Chronicles 18:13. 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.

REFLECTIONS.

See the Reflections on 2 Samuel 8. Tou, king of Hamath, finding his rival vanquished, very prudently ventured to congratulate David by an embassy of his son, and to court his alliance by splendid gifts. So in prosperity a man has many friends, and his enemies are all at peace with him. But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, an alsufficient friend that lives and reigns for ever. Let us pay him an early homage; for his lovingkindness is better than life; and they that trust in him shall never be confounded.

We must note the profound piety of David, in dedicating all his share of the spoils of gold and silver to the Lord, while preparing to build the temple. In all things we should aim at glorifying his holy name.

Related Commentaries of 1 Chronicles 18:1

1 Chronicles 18:1-17

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.

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

3 And David smote Hadarezera 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 sevenb 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 Damascusc came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; 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,d 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 Toue king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;

10 He sent Hadoramf 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.

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 Abishaig the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.h

16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelechi 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 chief aboutj the king.