Bible Commentary

Benson Commentary 1 Chronicles 18:1 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. 1 Chronicles 18:1 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 1 Chronicles 18:3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 1 Chronicles 18:3 . 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 . 1 Chronicles 18:4 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. 1 Chronicles 18:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 1 Chronicles 18:5-6 . 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, 1 Chronicles 18:7-8 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 1 Chronicles 18:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 18:8 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. 1 Chronicles 18:9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; 1 Chronicles 18:10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to inquire 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. 1 Chronicles 18:10 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:11 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. 1 Chronicles 18:11 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. 1 Chronicles 18:13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went. 1 Chronicles 18:13 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people. 1 Chronicles 18:14 . 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. 1 Chronicles 18:15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder. 1 Chronicles 18:16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; 1 Chronicles 18:17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king. Benson Commentary on the Old and New Testaments Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com . Used by Permission.