Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 18

Verse 1

CHAPTER XVIII

David smites the Philistines, and takes Gath, 1.

Reduces the Moabites, 2.

Vanquishes Hadarezer, king of Zobah, 3, 4.

Overcomes the Syrians of Damascus, and takes several of their

cities, 5-8.

Tou, king of Hamath, congratulates him on his victory, and

sends him vessels of silver, gold, and brass, 9, 10.

Those and the different spoils he had taken from the conquered

nations, he dedicates to God, 11.

Abishai defeats the Edomites, 12, 13.

David reigns over all Israel, 14.

His officers, 15-17.

NOTES ON CHAP. XVIII

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:1. David - took Gath and her towns — See the comparison between this chapter and 2 Samuel 8:1, &c., in the notes on the latter.

Verse 2

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:2. Brought gifts — Were laid under tribute.

Verse 9

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:9. Tou king of Hamath — Called Toi in 2 Samuel 8:9.

Verse 12

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:12. 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.

Verse 15

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:15. Joab - was over the host — General-in-chief.

Jehoshaphat - recorder. — The king's remembrancer, or historiographer royal.

Verse 16

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:16. 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.

Verse 17

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:17. Cherethites and the Pelethites — 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.