Chapter 18

1 David subdueth the Philistines and the Moabites. 3 He smiteth Hadarezer and the Syrians. 9 Tou sendeth Hadoram with presents to bless David. 11 The presents and the spoil David dedicateth to God. 13 He putteth garrisons in Edom. 14 David’s officers.

1. After this. Verses 1–13 deal with the conquests of David. See also on 2 Sam. 8:1–14 The words “after this” do not necessarily indicate that the events about to be narrated all followed in chronological sequence after the events previously given. The order in which events are found recorded in the Bible is not always exactly that in which they took place. Both 2 Sam. 8 and 1 Chron. 18 seem to incorporate a discussion of the various conquests of David, beginning with Philistia and Moab, but also enumerate the spoils and tribute won from several Syrian states that were subjugated in the war that began at the death of Nahash of Ammon (see 1 Chron. 19).

Gath. The record in Samuel has, “Metheg-ammah,” which some interpret as meaning, “bridle of the mother city” (see on 2 Sam. 8:1). According to this interpretation David took control of the mother city, the metropolis, of the Philistines, which, according to the record in Chronicles, was Gath.

2. Smote Moab. Compare 2 Sam. 8:2.

3. Hadarezer. See on 2 Sam. 8:3 for the correct spelling and derivation of the name.

Zobah unto Hamath. Rather, Zobah toward Hamath. Zobah was an Aramaean kingdom west of the Euphrates, north of Damascus, and south of Hammath. It flourished in the days of Saul, David, and Solomon (see 1 Sam. 14:47; 2 Sam. 8:3; 2 Chron. 8:3).

To stablish his dominion. “To recover his border” (see on 2 Sam. 8:3).

Euphrates. The statement here is evidence that David exercised a measure of “dominion” as far as the Euphrates. This is further substantiated by the fact that among the defeated Syrian allies were Aramaeans from east of the Euphrates (see on ch. 19:16, 19).

4. Seven thousand horsemen. The parallel passage reads “seven hundred horsemen” (2 Sam. 8:4). The LXX reads 7,000 in both instances (see pp. 122, 123).

Houghed. That is, hamstrung. The practice was to cut the sinews of the hind legs so as to disable the horses (see Joshua 11:6–9).

6. Garrisons. The word for “garrisons” is not present in the Hebrew text of Chronicles but is found in 2 Sam. 8:6, as well as in the LXX, Syriac, and Targums of the Chronicles text.

David’s Wars With Ammon and Syria

After subduing several nations, David sent Joab against the Ammonites because of insult to envoys. Ammon summoned help from several districts of Syria.

8. Brass. Properly copper or bronze (see on 1 Kings 7:47). The metal was very common in ancient times throughout Western Asia.

This chapter, like its counterpart, 2 Sam. 8, seems concerned less with describing the conquests than with recounting the spoils and tribute that David won and put aside for the future temple (see on v. 11).

The brasen sea. See 1 Kings 7:15–26, 45; 2 Chron. 4:2–5, 10, 15, 18.

10. Hadoram. Or Joram (2 Sam. 8:10).

11. David dedicated. This verse sums up the sources of the riches that David set aside for the Temple. His conquests seem to be summarized here for this purpose, and nations are mentioned whose conquest is not reported till ch. 19.

12. Edomites. In Samuel this verse reads: “David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men” (2 Sam. 8:13). The probabilities are that while David was engaged in the north against the Syrians, Edom took advantage of the situation and invaded Judah, whereupon a column was sent against Edom under Abishai, who slew 18,000 of the Edomites (see on 2 Sam. 8:12). According to both Samuel and Chronicles this incident took place in the “valley of salt.” A valley so named was located in Edom (2 Kings 14:7; 2 Chron. 25:11).

13. In Edom. “Throughout all Edom” (2 Sam. 8:14). It is thus evident that the entire country of Edom was placed under Israelite control. In view of the wild nature of much of the terrain, permanent garrisons were needed throughout the land to keep the situation in hand.

14. David reigned. Verses 14–17 deal with David’s internal administration.

Executed judgment. David acted in the capacity of chief justice of the land (see 2 Sam. 15:2–4).

15. Zeruiah. The sister of David (1 Chron. 2:16). Joab was thus a nephew of David.

16. Zadok. For Zadok, of the line of Eleazar (ch. 6:4–8), see on 2 Sam. 8:17.

Abimelech. This should be spelled Ahimelech as in 2 Sam. 8:17. An Ahimelech is mentioned both as the father of Abiathar (1 Sam. 22:20) and as the son (1 Chron. 24:6). Elsewhere Zadok and Abiathar are named as the priests (see 2 Sam. 15:29, 35). On the harmony of these statements see on 2 Sam. 8:17.

17. Cherethites and the Pelethites. These foreigners formed the royal bodyguard (see on 2 Sam. 15:18).

Ellen G. White comments

1–3, 14         PP 713