1 Chronicles 18:17

1Chr 18:1. Reduces the Moabites, 1Chr 18:2. Vanquishes Hadarezer, king of Zobah, 1Chr 18:3, 1Chr 18:4. Overcomes the Syrians of Damascus, and takes several of their cities, 1Chr 18:5-8. Tou, king of Hamath, congratulates him on his victory, and sends him vessels of silver, gold, and brass, 1Chr 18:9, 1Chr 18:10. Those and the different spoils he had taken from the conquered nations, he dedicates to God, 1Chr 18:11. Abishai defeats the Edomites, 1Chr 18:12, 1Chr 18:13. David reigns over all Israel, 1Chr 18:14. His officers, 1Chr 18:15-17. Verse 1 David - took Gath and her towns - See the comparison between this chapter and 2Sam 8:1 (note), etc., in the notes on the latter. Verse 2 Brought gifts - Were laid under tribute. Verse 9 Tou king of Hamath - Called Toi in 2Sam 8:9. Verse 12 Abishai - slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, 2Sam 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 Joab - was over the host - General-in-chief. Jehoshaphat - recorder - The king's remembrancer, or historiographer royal. Verse 16 Zadok - and Abimelech - priests - Both high priests; one at Gibeon, and the other at Jerusalem, as we have seen 1Chr 16:39. Shavsha was scribe - Called Seraiah, 2Sam 8:17. Verse 17 Cherethites and the Pelethites - See the note on 2Sam 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. Introduction

9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah; 10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire 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. 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. 12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand. 13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. 14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people. 15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder. 16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe; 17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king. Here let us learn, 1. That it is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David's great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble present, v. 9, 10 . It is in vain to contend with the Son of David. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest he be angry; let the kings and judges of the earth, and all inferior people too, be thus wise, thus instructed. The presents we are to bring him are not vessels of gold and silver, as here (those shall be welcomed to him who have no such presents to bring), but our hearts and sincere affections, our whole selves, we must present to him as living sacrifices. 2. That what God blesses us with we must honour him with. The presents of his friends, as well as the spoils of his enemies, David dedicated unto the Lord ( v. 11 ), that is, he laid them up towards the building and enriching of the temple. That is most truly and most comfortably our own which we have consecrated unto the Lord, and which we use for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord, Isa. xxiii. 18 . 3. That those who take God along with them whithersoever they go may expect to prosper, and be preserved, whithersoever they go. It was said before ( v. 6 ) and here it is repeated ( v. 13 ) that the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. Those are always under the eye of God that have God always in their eye. 4. God gives men power, not that they may look great with it, but that they may do good with it. When David reigned over all Israel he executed judgment and justice among all his people, and so answered the end of his elevation. He was not so intent on his conquests abroad as to neglect the administration of justice at home. Herein he served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits in the throne judging right; and he was an eminent type of the Messiah, the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.