1 Chronicles 18:4

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

David's Victories. ( b. c. 1042.) 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. 2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts. 3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 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 a hundred chariots. 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria-damascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. 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. After this, it is said ( v. 1 ), David did those great exploits. After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, he went on his work with extraordinary vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. Thus Jacob, after his vision, lifted up his feet, Gen. xxix. 1 . We have taken a view of these victories before, and shall now only observe, 1. Those that have been long enemies to the Israel of God will be brought down at last. The Philistines had, for several generations, been vexatious to Israel, but now David subdued them, v. 1 . Thus shall all opposing rule, principality, and power, be, at the end of time, put down by the Son of David, and the most inveterate enemies shall fall before him. 2. Such is the uncertainty of this world that frequently men lose their wealth and power when they think to confirm it. Hadarezer was smitten as he went to establish his dominion, v. 3 . 3. A horse is a vain thing for safety, so David said ( Ps. xxxiii. 17 ), and it seems he believed what he said, for he houghed the chariot-horses, v. 4 . Being resolved not to trust to them ( Ps. xx. 7 ), he would not use them. 4. The enemies of God's church are often made to ruin themselves by helping one another, v. 5 . The Syrians of Damascus were smitten when they came to help Hadarezer. When hand thus joins in hand they shall not only not go unpunished, but thereby they shall be gathered as the sheaves into the floor, Mic. iv. 11, 12 . 5. The wealth of the sinner sometimes proves to have been laid up for the just. The Syrians brought gifts, v. 6 . Their shields of gold and their brass were brought to Jerusalem, v. 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.