Ch. 1 Chronicles 18:1-17 (= 2 Samuel 8:1-18). A Summary of David’s Foreign Wars. David’s Officials

This chapter like the last is taken from 2 Sam. with a few omissions and variations. The Chronicler paraphrases (1 Chronicles 18:1; 1 Chronicles 18:17), omits (1 Chronicles 18:2), has a different reading (1 Chronicles 18:4; 1 Chronicles 18:8; 1 Chronicles 18:10; 1 Chronicles 18:12). In some cases the better reading is in Chron.

The campaigns (except perhaps that against Moab) seem to be narrated In chronological order. David first makes sure of his most pressing enemy the Philistines (1 Chronicles 18:1); then feeling safe towards the S.W. he turns towards the N.E. to secure on the Euphrates a station (valuable for trade) held by the Syrians of Zobah (1 Chronicles 18:3); the Syrians of Damascus fearing to be excluded from the River by David’s success come to the help of their kinsmen (1 Chronicles 18:5); lastly the Edomites, urged perhaps by the Syrians to make a diversion in their favour and thinking it safe to attack Judah during the absence of David, join in the war, but are signally defeated by a detachment under Joab and Abishai (1 Chronicles 18:12).

The war with Moab (1 Chronicles 18:2) is surprising, if it took place at an early date in David’s reign, for he seems to have been on specially friendly terms with the king of Moab during his exile; cp. 1 Samuel 22:3-4 and Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:2.

Ch. 1 Chronicles 18:1-13 (= 2 Samuel 8:1-14). A Summary of David’s Foreign Wars

1. after this] The phrase is adopted from 2 Samuel 8:1 and probably came originally from a still earlier book of annals, in which the context may have been different. We cannot therefore say at what period of David’s reign the conquest of Gath took place.

took Gath and her towns] In 2 Samuel 8:1, took the bridle of the mother city (R.V.), a poetical expression which the Chronicler has turned into prose.

2. smote Moab] The Chronicler at this point omits, as he often omits, some obscure words of Samuel. 2 Samuel 8:2 seems to say that David put two thirds of the Moabites (presumably the warriors) to death, but the meaning of the verse is uncertain.

brought gifts] R.V. brought presents, i.e. tribute. It is the action of an inferior acknowledging the superiority of another. The same Heb. phrase (translated “bring an offering”) is used Psalm 96:8 of sacrificing to Jehovah.

3. Hadarezer] So spelt in 2 Samuel 10:16-19, but in 2 Samuel 8:3-12, Hadadezer, the right form (as inscriptions shew).

Zobah unto Hamath] Render as R.V. mg. Zobah by Hamath, the position of Zobah being fixed by the note that it was near Hamath.

Hamath] The modern Hama on the Orontes, midway between Antioch and Damascus, but somewhat further to the E. than either. Bädeker, p. 396; Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:9.

as he went to stablish his dominion] He refers to David. 2 Samuel 8:3 reads, to recover his dominion (R.V.). Saul had probably gained some dominion on the Euphrates in his war with Zobah (1 Samuel 14:47), which was lost in the confusion which followed his death. David now recovers it.

4. a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen] Sam. a thousand and seven hundred horsemen (so Heb. but LXX. of Sam. agrees with Chron.). Houghed = “hamstrung.”

5. Damascus] The name is variously written in Heb., Darmesek (Chron.), Dammesek (Gen., 1 Kin.), Dummesek (2 Kings 16:10). In Arabic it is Dimishk. See Bädeker, p. 306 ff. and Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:5.

came to help] By interposing between David and his own land and threatening his rear.

6. put garrisons in Syria of Damascus] To secure his rear in any future operations towards Hamath or towards the Euphrates.

brought gifts] See note on 1 Chronicles 18:2.

preserved David] R.V. gave victory to David.

7. shields of gold] “shields” = Heb. shĕlâtim. The meaning of the Heb. word is doubtful; most probably it does not mean “shield,” for (1) a shield would not be described as “upon” the person to whom it belonged, (2) the early authorities, i.e. the LXX. translators, the Targum, and the Peshitta (on 2 Samuel 8:7; 2 Kings 11:10; Jeremiah 51:11; Ezekiel 27:11) never give “shield,” but either leave the word untranslated or give various conjectural renderings. A later authority (Targ. on 1 Chronicles 18:7; 2 Chronicles 23:9) gives “shield,” while LXX. gives “collars (κλοιούς),” and “arms,” or “shields” (τὰ ὅπλα) in 2 Chr.

The most probable rendering of the word is “suit of armour”; cp. R.V. mg. on Jeremiah 51:11.

and brought them to Jerusalem] So Heb. LXX. Targ., but the Peshitta (all important MSS.) omits the words, and they may be a gloss introduced from 2 Samuel 8:7.

8. Likewise from] R.V. and from.

Tibhath] Cp. Tebah, the name of an Aramæan family, Genesis 22:24. Nothing is known certainly of the position of the city; but cp. Sayce, Higher Criticism, p. 317. In 2 Samuel 8:8 Betah (= Tebah).

Chun] R.V. Cun; 2 Samuel 8:8, “Berothai.” Nothing is certainly known of a city of either name; but “Berothai” may be the same as “Berothah” (Ezekiel 47:16).

very much brass] Cp. 1 Chronicles 22:14; 1 Chronicles 29:2.

brass] Not the metal generally so called. R.V. (mg. note to Genesis 4:22) gives copper as an alternative rendering. The “brass” of the ancients (χαλκός, LXX.) corresponded rather to bronze.

the brasen sea, etc.] Cp. 2 Chronicles 4:11-18.

9. Tou] In 2 Samuel 8:9 “Toi” (so Heb., but LXX. “Tou”).

10. Hadoram] In 2 Samuel 8:10, “Joram.” Both these forms are probably Heb. adaptations of the real name.

to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him] R.V. to salute him, and to bless him (as Sam.).

and with him all manner of vessels] Such informal tribute was an acknowledgment of David’s suzerainty made in order to claim David’s protection in war. Cp. the action of Asa (1 Kings 15:18-19) and of Ahaz (2 Kings 16:7-8). In all three cases the policy was the same, i.e. to acknowledge a distant suzerain in order to gain the benefit of a valuable alliance, while losing the minimum of independence.

11. from Amalek] So 2 Samuel 8:12, but we have no record of any war of David with Amalek except the account in 1 Samuel 30.

12. Abishai the son of Zeruiah] In 2 Samuel 8:13 David, and in Psalms 60 (title) Joab, receives the credit of this victory. Probably Abishai commanded in the battle, while Joab (cp. 1 Kings 11:16) completed the conquest of the country.

of the Edomites] Lit. “of Edom,” so Psalms 60 (title), but in 2 Sam. “of the Syrians,” lit. “Aram.” The two words “Edom” and “Aram” when written in Heb. are very much alike and are easily confused. The reading “Edom” is right here. Cp. Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:13.

the valley of salt] Probably the marshy flat (Bädeker, p. 144) at the S. end of the Dead Sea. This valley is dominated by the Jebel Usdum, a hill consisting “almost entirely of pure crystallised salt” (Bädeker, p. 143).

eighteen thousand] Psalms 60 (title), “twelve thousand,” not an important variation.

13. preserved David] See 1 Chronicles 18:6, note.

14–17 (= 2 Samuel 8:15-18; cp. ib. 2 Samuel 20:23-26). David’s Officials

14. among all his people] R.V. unto all his people. David was his own chief justice, but probably the work was too much for one man; cp. 2 Samuel 15:2-4 with Kirkpatrick’s note.

15. recorder] R.V. marg., chronicler; LXX., ὑπομνηματογράφος.

16. Abimelech the son of Abiathar] In 2 Samuel 8:17, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, but read Abiathar son of Ahimelech in both passages. Cp. 1 Chronicles 15:11; 1 Chronicles 24:2, notes; and Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:17.

Shavsha] 2 Samuel 8:17, Seraiah; ib. 2 Samuel 20:25 Sheva; and 1 Kings 4:3 (perhaps), Shisha. Shisha and Shavsha probably represent two different attempts to pronounce a foreign name; Seraiah and Sheva are mere errors of transcription. Foreigners were admitted to posts of authority in the empire of David and Solomon; Ittai the Gittite and Uriah the Hittite are instances.

scribe] R.V. mg., secretary. See 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Kings 22:3; cp. 2 Kings 25:19, a passage which suggests that there was a second scribe with military duties. The first, the king’s scribe, would formulate the king’s orders and conduct his correspondence with foreign powers.

17. Benaiah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 11:22-25.

the Cherethites and the Pelethites] David’s bodyguard. The Cherethites were almost certainly Philistines (1 Samuel 30:14; Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5), the Pelethites were probably also Philistines (2 Samuel 15:18). Neither were heard of after the time of David unless the Carites of 2 Kings 11:4 (R.V.) are the Cherethites. Foreign bodyguards are well-known in history.

chief about the king] Lit., the chief at the king’s hand, i.e. formed the executive to carry out his commands; cp. Nehemiah 11:24. In 2 Samuel 8:18 (R.V.) David’s sons are described as priests. (Consult Baudissin, AT liches Priesterthum, p. 191.)