Chap. 8. The Development of David’s Kingdom

 = 1 Chronicles 18

1, 2. Conquest of the Philistines and Moabites

1. And after this it came to pass] This chapter contains a summary account of the wars by which David established the supremacy of Israel among the surrounding nations. At what periods of his reign they were waged is not stated. As has been already implied in the note on ch. 2 Samuel 7:1, it seems best to consider the words “and after this it came to pass” as a general formula of transition and connexion, not necessarily indicating a strict chronological sequence. It may possibly be derived from the annals which were the original source of the history. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 10:1, 2 Samuel 13:1.

took Metheg-ammah, &c.] The most probable explanation of this obscure expression is took the bridle of the metropolis out of the hand of the Philistines, i.e. wrested from them the control of their chief city. This is equivalent to the statement in 1 Chronicles 18:1 that “David took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines;” and it may be noticed that the metaphor of the ‘mother-city’ is employed there, for the word translated “towns” literally means daughters. Gath was allowed to retain its king as a tributary (1 Kings 2:39). On its site and history see note on 1 Samuel 5:8.

2. casting them down to the ground] Making them lie down on the ground. The Moabite prisoners, doubtless only the fighting men, were ordered to lie down upon the ground in rows, which were measured with a measuring line. Two thirds of them were executed, and only the remaining third spared. Why David inflicted such terrible vengeance on a nation which had once received him and given his parents an asylum (1 Samuel 22:3-4) can only be conjectured. A Jewish tradition relates that the king of Moab betrayed his trust and murdered David’s parents. Possibly the Moabites may have been guilty of some special act of treachery in one of David’s wars with their neighbours the Ammonites or Edomites. The exploit recorded in ch. 2 Samuel 23:20 was perhaps performed in this war. By this victory Balaam’s prophecy was fulfilled (Numbers 24:17).

brought gifts] Paid tribute to David. Cp. 2 Samuel 8:6; 1 Kings 4:21. At the division of the kingdom, Moab seems to have fallen to Israel, for we find Mesha, the king of Moab, paying a heavy tribute to Ahab, and at his death making a vigorous effort to throw off the Israelite yoke (2 Kings 3:4 ff.).

3–8. Conquest of Zobah and Damascus

3. Hadadezer] This name is written Hadarezer in ch. 2 Samuel 10:16-19, and in Chronicles, the letters d (ד) and r (ר) being easily confused in Hebrew. Hadad was the name of the Syrian sun-god, and Hadadezer appears to be the true form, meaning “whose help is Hadad.”

Zobah] The exact position and limits of this kingdom are undetermined. It seems to have been north-east of Damascus and south of Hamath, between the Orontes and Euphrates. Saul waged wars with its “kings,” who were probably independent chieftains (1 Samuel 14:47), but now it was consolidated under one ruler, and was a country of considerable wealth and power.

to recover his border] The phrase cannot be thus rendered, but means probably either to renew his attack or to re-establish his power. The parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 18:3 has a different verb, meaning to set up his power. The subject of the sentence is Hadadezer, and the occasion referred to is probably that which is described more fully in ch. 2 Samuel 10:15-19. The Ammonites had hired the Syrians to help them against David, who defeated their combined forces. Hadadezer thereupon summoned the Syrians from beyond the Euphrates to his assistance, but was totally defeated.

at the river Euphrates] Euphrates is not in the written text, but according to the Jewish tradition is to be read (see Introd. p. 15). But the addition is unnecessary. “The River” by itself was understood to mean the Euphrates. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 10:16; Psalm 72:8.

4. a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen] The Heb. text as it stands can only mean a thousand and seven hundred horsemen; but it seems best to follow the text of the LXX. and of 1 Chronicles 18:4 in reading a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen.

houghed] Or hamstrung; disabled by cutting the back sinews of their hind legs. Cp. Joshua 11:6; Joshua 11:9.

reserved] To grace his triumph.

5. the Syrians of Damascus] The kingdom of which Damascus was the capital was the most powerful branch of the Aramaeans or Syrians, and played an important part in the history of Israel. It did not long remain subject to them. In Solomon’s reign a certain Rezon established himself at Damascus, and proved a troublesome enemy (1 Kings 11:23-25). Benhadad I. was bribed by Asa to break his league with Baasha and invade the Israelite territory (1 Kings 15:18), and actually built a Syrian quarter in Samaria (1 Kings 20:34). His son and successor Ben-hadad II. besieged Samaria (1 Kings 20:1), but was defeated, and compelled to submit to Ahab (1 Kings 20:34). But the defeat and death of Ahab at Ramoth-gilead again gave Syria the upper hand (1 Kings 22); and in the reign of Jehoram Samaria was once more besieged by them, and only saved by a miraculous interposition (2 Kings 6:24 to 2 Kings 7:20). The rising power of Assyria now began to threaten Syria, but in spite of the defeats he suffered from it, the usurper Hazael, succeeding in repulsing the combined forces of Judah and Israel at Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 8:28-29), ravaged the trans-Jordanic territory of Israel (2 Kings 10:32-33), captured Gath, and threatened Jerusalem, which only escaped on payment of a heavy ransom (2 Kings 12:17-18), and seriously reduced the power of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 13:3-7). Joash, however, recovered the lost territory (2 Kings 13:25), and Jeroboam II. extended his conquests to Damascus (2 Kings 14:28). Three quarters of a century later Syria reappears as the ally of Israel against Judah. Rezin, king of Damascus, made a league with Pekah to depose Ahaz and set up a creature of their own in his stead (2 Kings 16:5; Isaiah 7:1-9); but their attempt to take Jerusalem failed, and Ahaz persuaded Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to attack Syria. Rezin was slain and Damascus destroyed (2 Kings 16:7-9). Damascus now disappears from the O.T. history; but by the fourth century b. c. it had been rebuilt. and has maintained its prosperity down to the present day. It is situated in a fertile plain watered by the river Barada, which is probably the Abana of Scripture, to the E. of the great mountain chain of the Anti-Libanus, on the edge of the desert. Travellers describe it as “embosomed in a wide forest of fruit trees, intersected and surrounded by sparkling streams, in the midst of an earthly paradise.” This natural beauty and fertility, combined with its importance as a centre of trade, have secured the permanence of its prosperity for nearly 4,000 years. See Robinson’s Biblical Researches, III. 443 ff; Stanley’s Sinai and Palestine, p. 414 ff.

6. garrisons] Military posts to secure the country. Some render the word officers for the collection of the tribute, but the E. V. is probably right. Cp. note on 1 Samuel 10:5.

brought gifts] See note on 2 Samuel 8:2.

preserved] Or saved, as in ch. 2 Samuel 3:18, 2 Samuel 22:3-4.

7. that were on the servants of Hadadezer] Or, that belonged to, &c. Probably it was his bodyguard which was distinguished by these golden shields. Similarly a corps of the Macedonian army under Alexander the Great was known as “the silver-shields” (ἀργυράσπιδες).

The Septuagint adds at the end of the verse: “And Susakim [i.e. Shishak] king of Egypt took them, when he went up to Jerusalem in the days of Roboam the son of Solomon.” In 1 Kings 14:26 there is a corresponding addition in the Sept.: “And the golden spears which David took from the hand of the servants of Adraazar king of Soba and carried to Jerusalem, he took them all.”

8. Betah] The site of this city is unknown, and even the form of the name is uncertain. Chr. has Tibhath, and the reading of the Sept. makes it probable that the original form here was Tebah, which occurs as the name of one of the sons of Nahor the Syrian (Genesis 22:24).

Berothai] Probably the same as Berothah, mentioned by Ezekiel (ch. Ezekiel 47:16) in connexion with Hamath and Damascus. The name Chun, given in Chr., may be a later name for the place, or a corruption of the text. Its site has not been determined.

brass] Rather, copper, or bronze. The word certainly denotes a simple metal in some passages, e.g. Deuteronomy 8:9; in others perhaps a compound one, but if so, bronze (copper and tin), not brass (copper and zinc), which was unknown to the Hebrews.

The Sept. has an addition here similar to that in Chr.: “Therewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the lavers, and all the vessels.”

9–12. Congratulatory embassy from Toi king of Hamath

9. Toi] The Sept. agrees with Chr. in reading his name Toü.

Hamath] A kingdom north of Zobah, with a capital of the same name situated on the Orontes. Hamath was one of the kingdoms which were tributary to Solomon, who built cities there (1 Kings 4:24; 2 Chronicles 8:4). After his death it regained its independence until Jeroboam II. recovered it (2 Kings 14:28). A century later it is reckoned among the conquests of Assyria (2 Kings 19:13). The epithet “great,” applied to the city by Amos (ch. 2 Samuel 6:2), attests its importance. A considerable town, retaining the name of Hamah, still occupies the site.

10. Joram] Hadoram, the name given in Chr., is probably the true reading, for which the Hebrew name Joram has been substituted by a scribe’s error.

to bless him] To congratulate him, as in Chr. The phrase there translated “to inquire of his welfare” is identical with that rendered “to salute” here.

Hadadezer had wars with Toi] Lit. “a man of wars of Toi was Hadadezer.” A man of wars = one who wages wars. Cp. 1 Chronicles 28:3.

Joram brought, &c.] A valuable present, intended to secure the goodwill of his powerful neighbour. Cp. 1 Kings 15:18.

12. of Syria] Chr. and the Sept. agree in reading Edom instead of Aram (Syria). The two names are easily confused (cp. note on 2 Samuel 8:3), and it is not easy to decide between them. The order, and the connexion with Moab and Ammon, are in favour of Edom: on the other hand Edom has not yet been mentioned, and Syria of Damascus was distinct from Zobah, and might very well be specified in addition to it (2 Samuel 8:5).

Amalek] The only allusion to an Amalekite war, unless the spoil taken in the victory of 1 Samuel 30:16 ff. is meant.

Chr. omits the rest of the verse.

13, 14. Conquest of Edom

13. gat him a name] Won renown. Cp. ch. 2 Samuel 7:9. This, and not “erected a monument,” as some render, is the right meaning.

when he returned from smiting of the Syrians] The text is certainly corrupt. Chr. reads, “And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote Edom in the valley of salt, (to the number of) eighteen thousand men.” The Sept. has, “And David made a name: and as he returned he smote Edom in Gebelem [a corrupt transliteration of the words meaning valley of salt] to the number of eighteen thousand.” Moreover the Valley of Salt was nowhere in the neighbourhood of Syria, but on the ancient border between Judah and Edom, to the S. of the Dead Sea. It was the scene of Amaziah’s victory over the Edomites (2 Kings 14:7). We must therefore either adopt the Sept. reading, or insert after Syrians the words and he smote Edom, which may easily have dropped out, as the second of two similarly ending clauses.

Psalms 60 is referred to this occasion by its title; “Michtam of David. When he fought with Aram of the two rivers [Mesopotamia] and Aram of Zobah, and Joab returned and smote Edom in the Valley of Salt (to the number of) twelve thousand men.” The genuineness of this title is disputed, chiefly on the ground that the Psalm speaks of heavy disasters, of which there is no mention in the history. But we should scarcely expect defeat to be chronicled in such an extremely brief summary as the present, which records only the final results of the war. We may conjecture that while David was occupied with his campaign against the Ammonites and Syrians, Edom seized the opportunity for invading the south of Judah, and succeeded in inflicting serious damage, until David sent back part of his forces under Joab or Abishai, and repulsed their attack, following up his victory by the complete subjugation of Edom. We learn further from 1 Kings 11:15-16, that the war was pursued with relentless severity, and signal vengeance taken upon the Edomites. That the successful campaign is here attributed to David, in Chr. to Abishai, in the Psalm and in 1 Kings to Joab, need cause no difficulty. David was concerned in it as king, Joab as general of the army, Abishai probably as commander of the division sent forward in advance. The variations as to the number of slain, here put at 18,000, in the Psalm at 12,000, may be due either to a textual error, or to some difference in the mode of reckoning.

14. garrisons] See note on 2 Samuel 8:6. Stress is laid by the words throughout all Edom on the completeness with which David subjugated the country. Thus was fulfilled the first part of Isaac’s prophecy (Genesis 27:37-40), and Balaam’s prophecy (Numbers 24:17-18).

15. executed judgment and justice] Proving himself the true representative of Jehovah, whose attributes these are (Psalm 33:5; Psalm 89:14); and a true type of the perfect Messianic King (Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 32:1; Jeremiah 23:5-6).

15–18. David’s administration and officers

A summary notice of the internal administration of the kingdom, with a list of David’s chief officers of state, is appended to the account of his wars. Another list of these officers is given in ch. 2 Samuel 20:23-26 : on the differences between them see notes there. A similar list of Solomon’s officers is to be found in 1 Kings 4:1-6.

16. recorder] Or, remembrancer, a state officer of high rank, who seems not only to have kept a record of events, but to have acted as the king’s adviser. His importance is indicated by 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Kings 18:37, where he appears as one of the king’s representatives, and 2 Chronicles 34:8, where he is mentioned as one of the commissioners for restoring the Temple. The traveller Chardin describes a similar officer of the Persian court, whose duty it is to furnish the king and his ministers with an account of all important events that take place in the kingdom, and to keep a record of them, and also to register the royal acts and decrees. Travels, III., p. 328.

17. Zadok the son of Ahitub] Zadok was of the house of Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:4-8). He joined David at Hebron after Saul’s death (1 Chronicles 12:28), and remained faithful to him throughout his reign. In Absalom’s rebellion he left Jerusalem along with David, and only returned at his command (2 Samuel 15:24-29; 2 Samuel 17:15). Through him David communicated with the elders of Judah concerning his return (ch. 2 Samuel 19:11). Finally, when Abiathar joined the rebellion of Adonijah, Zadok remained faithful to David, took part in the anointing of Solomon, and was made sole high-priest (1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:44; 1 Kings 2:35), which office he held during some part of Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 4:4).

Ahimelech the son of Abiathar] Since Zadok and Abiathar are elsewhere constantly mentioned together as the high-priests in David’s reign, and it is clear from 1 Samuel 22:20-23 that Abiathar was the son of Ahimelech, and from 1 Kings 1; 1 Kings 2:26 that he held office throughout David’s reign, it seems necessary to emend the text and read Abiathar the son of Ahimelech. The error, if it is one, appears also in 1 Chronicles 18:16; 1 Chronicles 24:3; 1 Chronicles 24:6; 1 Chronicles 24:31, and must have existed in one of the original documents from which these books were compiled. It seems hardly probable, though not impossible, that the high-priesthood of Abiathar is assumed as known, and only the assistant priests mentioned, who stood in the same relation to him as Hophni and Phinehas to Eli (1 Samuel 1:3): or that Ahimelech officiated for a time as deputy for his father, who was incapacitated by illness or other cause.

priests] Zadok officiated in the Tabernacle at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39), Abiathar probably before the Ark in Jerusalem. On the origin of this double high-priesthood, see preliminary note to ch. vi., p. 88.

Seraiah] Called in 1 Chronicles 18:16 Shavsha, and probably the same as Sheva or Sheya (2 Samuel 20:25) and Shisha (1 Kings 4:3).

scribe] Secretary of state: an official mentioned several times in the course of the history: e.g. 2 Kings 12:10; 2 Kings 18:18; 2 Kings 18:37; 2 Kings 22:3, &c.

18. Benaiah] See note on ch. 2 Samuel 23:20.

was over] Over is not in the Heb. text, and must be supplied from Chr. But possibly there is some further defect, for the Sept. reads “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was counsellor.” Cp. note on ch. 2 Samuel 23:23.

the Cherethites and the Pelethites] The first reference to these troops, which are mentioned by this name during the reign of David only. They seem to have formed the king’s body-guard. See ch. 2 Samuel 15:18, 2 Samuel 20:7; 2 Samuel 20:23; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 1:44; 1 Chronicles 18:17. Two explanations of the names have been proposed: (1) that they mean executioners and runners, it being the duty of the royal guards to execute sentence (see Genesis 37:36 marg.; 1 Kings 2:25), and to convey the king’s orders from place to place (see 2 Chronicles 30:6): (2) that they are the names of two Philistine tribes, the body-guard being composed of foreign mercenaries, like the Pope’s Swiss guard. In favour of the latter explanation it may be urged (a) that the names are gentilic in form; (b) that Cherethites certainly denotes a Philistine tribe in the other passages where it occurs (1 Samuel 30:14; Ezekiel 25:16; Zephaniah 2:5); (c) that they are mentioned in conjunction with the Gittites in ch. 2 Samuel 15:18, so that David evidently had some foreign troops in his service, whom he had gathered round him during his residence at Ziklag.

chief rulers] Ministers. The word is that usually translated priest. It is derived from a root meaning to serve or minister, and in a few instances denotes a civil not an ecclesiastical minister, the king’s confidential adviser. Cp. the paraphrase in 1 Chronicles 18:17 “chief by the side of the king;” and 1 Kings 4:5, where the E. V. renders “principal officer.”