12 Moreover Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 slew H5221 of the Edomites H123 in the valley H1516 of salt H4417 eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand. H505
Moab H4124 is my washpot; H5518 H7366 over Edom H123 will I cast out H7993 my shoe: H5275 Philistia, H6429 triumph H7321 thou because of me. Who will bring H2986 me into the strong H4692 city? H5892 who will lead H5148 me into Edom? H123
But Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 answered H6030 and said, H559 Shall not Shimei H8096 be put to death H4191 for this, because he cursed H7043 the LORD'S H3068 anointed? H4899 And David H1732 said, H559 What have I to do with you, ye sons H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 that ye should this day H3117 be adversaries H7854 unto me? shall there any man H376 be put to death H4191 this day H3117 in Israel? H3478 for do not I know H3045 that I am this day H3117 king H4428 over Israel? H3478
Then said H559 Abishai H52 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 unto the king, H4428 Why should this dead H4191 dog H3611 curse H7043 my lord H113 the king? H4428 let me go over, H5674 I pray thee, and take off H5493 his head. H7218 And the king H4428 said, H559 What have I to do with you, ye sons H1121 of Zeruiah? H6870 so let him curse, H7043 because the LORD H3068 hath said H559 unto him, Curse H7043 David. H1732 Who shall then say, H559 Wherefore hast thou done so? H6213 And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 and to all his servants, H5650 Behold, my son, H1121 which came forth H3318 of my bowels, H4578 seeketh H1245 my life: H5315 how much more now may this Benjamite H1145 do it? let him alone, H3240 and let him curse; H7043 for the LORD H3068 hath bidden H559 him.
And David H1732 gat H6213 him a name H8034 when he returned H7725 from smiting H5221 of the Syrians H758 in the valley H1516 of salt, H4417 being eighteen H8083 H6240 thousand H505 men. And he put H7760 garrisons H5333 in Edom; H123 throughout all Edom H123 put H7760 he garrisons, H5333 and all they of Edom H123 became David's H1732 servants. H5650 And the LORD H3068 preserved H3467 David H1732 whithersoever he went. H1980
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 18
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 18 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 18
1Ch 18:1, 2. David Subdues the Philistines and Moabites.
1. 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 (2Sa 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 (2Sa 8:2).
the Moabites … brought gifts—that is, became tributary to Israel.
1Ch 18:3-17. David Smites Hadadezer and the Syrians.
3. Hadarezer—or, "Hadadezer" (2Sa 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 (Ge 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 (Ge 15:18; Nu 24:17). But others are of opinion that, as David's name is mentioned (1Ch 18:4), this reference is most applicable to Hadadezer.
4-8. And David took from him a thousand chariots—(See on 2Sa 8:3-14). In 2Sa 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 (2Sa 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.
9-13. Tou—or Toi—whose dominions border on those of Hadadezer. (See on 2Sa 8:9-12; 1Ki 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 (1Sa 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 (1Ch 12:3), and, being Benjamites, were expert in the use of the sling.