FRAMEWORKS:
1 Chronicles 18: David's Victories & his officials
[Introductory
Notes: Although there has already been some mention
of David's victories over the Philistines [ch.14], the recorder
now turns in the next four chapters to matters pertaining to the
army and David's victories. First we are shown some of his victories
[v.1-13] and then we are given a glimpse of David's administration
[v.14-17]
v.1-13
David's victories
v.1,2
Triumphs over the Philistines & Moabites
v.1
In
the course of time, David defeated the Philistines
and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages
from the control of the Philistines.
v.2
David
also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to
him and brought him tribute.
[Notes:
The Philistines had been Israel's
greatest antagonist in the south-west and so a further sign of
David being established is defeating both them and the Moabites
in the south-east.]
v.3-8
Particular victory over Hadadezer
v.3
Moreover,
David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the
vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the
River Euphrates.
v.4
David
captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers
and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred
of the chariot horses.
v.5
When
the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah,
David struck down twenty-two thousand of them.
v.6
He
put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans
became subject to him an d brought him tribute. The Lord
gave David victory wherever he went.
v.7
David
took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and
brought them to Jerusalem.
v.8
From
Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a
great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze
Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles.
[Notes:
Zobah was probably in the north and David obviously took
his men as far north as the Euphrates where he defeated Hadadezer
who then received help from Damascus but David defeated them also.]
v.9-11
Another king adds his support
v.9
When
Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army
of Hadadezer king of Zobah,
v.10
he
sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate
him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war
with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver
and of bronze.
v.11
King
David dedicated these articles to the Lord
, as he had
done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations:
Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.
[Notes:
Perhaps to curry favour as he saw other northern kings
being defeated by David, the king of Hamath [another northern
town probably on the border with Israel] sent friendly greetings
as well as items of gold and silver to David.]
v.12,13
The Edomites are overcome
v.12
Abishai
son of Zeruiah [David's sister]
struck down eighteen thousand Edomites
in the Valley of Salt.
v.13
He
put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to
David. The Lord
gave David
victory wherever he went.
[Notes:
David's nephew, Abishai [see 1 Chron 2:13-16], clearly
a great warrior [chief of ‘the Three' – 1 Chron 11:20] gained
fame [in leading his men] to kill a large number of Edomites,
strengthening David's rule even more.]
v.14-17
David's officials
v.14
David
reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right
for all his people.
v.15
Joab
son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat
son of Ahilud was recorder;
v.16
Zadok
son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of
Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;
v.17
Benaiah
son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;
and David's sons were chief officials at the king's side.
[Notes:
David's nephew Joab was the army commander under David
and various of David's sons were officials. Here we get a little
glimpse of the organisation under David that helped make him so
successful.]
Continue
to Ch.19