1 Chronicles 20

1Ch 20:1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

2Sa 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

2Sa 12:26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

After the year was expired - The next spring after the escape of the Ammonites into their city 2Sa_10:14. At the end of the year, which concluded with the month Adar or February, the spring of the year This was a fit time to go out to war; when the rains were over, and there were grass in the fields, and fruit on the trees, and corn ripe, and so food for horse and men.

David tarried at Jerusalem - The Syrians being subdued, the war with Ammon was not of sufficient moment to require David’s personal presence. The whole section relating to David’s adultery and Uriah’s death, from this verse to 2Sa_12:26, is omitted in the Book of Chronicles.

David tarried at Jerusalem - After this verse the parallel place in Samuel relates the whole story of David and Bath-sheba, and the murder of Uriah, which the compiler of these books passes over as he designedly does almost every thing prejudicial to the character of David. All he states is, but David tarried at Jerusalem; and, while he thus tarried, and Joab conducted the war against the Ammonites, the awful transactions above referred to took place.

When kings go forth - This was about a year after the war with the Syrians spoken of before, and about the spring of the year, as the most proper season for military operations.

besieged Rabbah - their chief city.

Joab smote Rabbah and destroyed it - The time during which this siege lasted, since the intercourse with Bathsheba, and the birth of at least one child, if not two, occurred during the progress of it, probably extended over two years.

1Ch 20:2 And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.

2Sa 12:30 And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

he took their king's crown from off his head - The crown of Hanun the king of the Ammonites, who now fell into his hands, and whom he stripped of his ensigns of royalty, who had so shamefully abused his ambassadors.

it was set on David's head - to show that the kingdom was subject to him;

To weigh a talent - Or, to be worth a talent.

1Ch 20:3 And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

2Sa 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

he brought forth the people that were therein - Not all the inhabitants of the place, but the princes of the children of Ammon, the counselors of Hattun, who advised him to use David's ambassadors in so shameful a manner, and others that expressed their pleasure and satisfaction in it:

he brought forth the people - This excessive severity and employment of tortures, which the Hebrews on no other occasion are recorded to have practiced, was an act of retributive justice on a people who were infamous for their cruelties 1Sa_11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, With this I will make a covenant with you, when all your right eyes are dug out and I will make it a reproach on all Israel. Amo_1:13 So says the LORD: For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon, yea for four, I will not turn away from it. Because they have ripped up the pregnant women of Gilead, to make their own border larger.

Cut them with saws - Saws were used to kill, as referenced in Heb_11:37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.

cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes - whereby they were cut asunder, as some were in later times by the Romans and others, or their flesh torn to pieces, and they put to extreme pain and agony, and so died most miserably.

Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon – Commentators seek to excuse this behavior of David’s, if in fact he ordered these atrocities. One states: “this action of David's showing so much severity, is thought by most to be done when under the power of his lust with Bathsheba, in an hardened and impenitent state, when he had no sense of mercy himself, and so showed none; which is too injurious to his character; for this was a righteous retaliation of this cruel people, 1Sa_11:2.” The Ammonites were cruel to their enemies and it is here thought by some scholars that David subjected only the fighting men to the cruelty they themselves enacted on others. In doing this, David merely retaliated upon the Ammonites the cruelties with which they had treated their foes; since according to Amo_1:13 they ripped up women who were with child, and according to 1Sa_11:2 their king Nahash would only make peace with the inhabitants of Jabesh upon the condition that the right eye of every one of them should be put out. After the close of this war, David returned to Jerusalem with all the men of war. The war with the Syrians and Ammonites, including as it did the Edomite war as well, was the fiercest in which David was ever engaged, and was also the last great war of his life.

cut them with saws — The Hebrew word, “cut them,” is, with the difference of the final letter, the same as that rendered “put them,” in the parallel passage of Samuel [2Sa_12:31]; and many consider that putting them to saws, axes, and so forth, means nothing more than that David condemned the inhabitants of Rabbah to hard and penal servitude.

1Ch 20:4 And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.

2Sa 21:18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.

war at Gezer - In the parallel passage 2Sa 21:18, “Gob” is named as the field of this battle. Either it had 2 names, or Gob is a small area located close to Gezer, from which both names would be appropriate for it. However, Gath is named 2Sa_21:20, 2Sa_21:22 in a way to make it probable that Gath was the scene of all the battles. The Septuagint in this verse has Geth (Gath). 2Sa_21:18 And after this there was a battle again with the Philistines in Geth: then Sebocha the Astatothite slew Seph of the progeny of Rapha. (Septuagint)

Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai - who is called Saph, 2Sa 21:18; he had his name from the lintel of a door, being as high as one, so tall that he could scarce go under one. Sibbechai was one of David's worthies, 1Ch_11:29; perhaps a descendant of Hushah, who sprung from Judah, 1Ch_4:4. According to 1Ch_27:11 The eighth for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites. And in his division were twenty-four thousand. Sibbechai, one of the gibborim of David 1Ch_11:29, was the leader of the eighth division of the army (2Sa_23:27).

1Ch 20:5 And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.

2Sa 21:19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

Elhanan the son of Jaire - he was one of David's worthies, 2Sa_23:24; where he is called the son of Dodo.

1Ch 20:6 And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.

2Sa 21:20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.

1Ch 20:7 But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.

2Sa 21:21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.

Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David - this brother of David is called Shammah, 1Sa_16:9 And Jesse passed Shammah by, but he said, Also the LORD has not chosen this one.; and Shimma, 1Ch_2:13 And Jesse fathered his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, this son of his is not Jonadab his son, who was famous for his subtlety as this was for his valor, 2Sa_13:3 And Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. And Jonadab was a very crafty man.

1Ch 20:8 These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

2Sa 21:22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

These were born to the giant in Gath - Not necessarily meaning that they were brothers, but that they were all of the race of the Giant, all Rephaim. 2Sa 21:22 These four were born descendants of the giants in Geth, the family of Rapha; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. (Septuagint) These giants, it is highly probable, were the descendants of the Anakim which remained in Gath after they were cut off by Joshua in other places, Jos_11:22. This verse is a postscript, in which the previous verses are summed up.

The compiler of these books passes by also the incest of Amnon with his sister Tamar, and the rebellion of Absalom, and the awful consequences of all these. These should have preceded the fourth verse. These facts could not be unknown to him, for they were notorious to all.

1 Chronicles 19

1Ch 19:1 Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.

2Sa 10:1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.

Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died - There had subsisted a very friendly relation between David and him, begun during the exile of the former, and cemented, doubtless, by their common hostility to Saul. The history is here a duplicate to the history in 2 Samuel 10.

The king of the sons of Ammon - The Ammonites are almost always spoken of as the children of Ammon, from the name of their first ancestor Ben-ammi Gen_19:38 And the younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died - who probably was the same that came against Jabeshgilead, from whom Saul delivered the inhabitants of that place, 1Sa_11:1 And Nahash the Ammonite came up and camped against Jabesh-gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.

1Ch 19:2 And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.

2Sa 10:2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

Hanun - A Philistine king of this name is mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions as paying tribute to Tiglath-pileser and warring with Sargon.

I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash - We do not know exactly the nature or extent of the obligation which David was under to the king of the Ammonites; but it is likely that the Nahash here mentioned was the same who had attacked Jabesh-gilead, and whom Saul defeated: as David had taken refuge with the Moabites, 1Sa_22:3, and this was contiguous to the king of the Ammonites, his hatred to Saul might induce him to show particular kindness to David.

David sent messengers to comfort him - for the death of his father; to condole the loss of him, which was the custom of kings in friendship and alliance in former times.

1Ch 19:3 But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?

2Sa 10:3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?

are not his servants come unto thee for to search - that is, the capital, Rabbah (2Sa_10:3).

The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun - The suspicion expressed by the chiefs was founded upon national hatred and enmity, possibly increased by David's treatment of Moab, as the subjugation and severe punishment of the Moabites 2Sa_8:2 had certainly taken place a short time before. King Hanun therefore gave credence to the suspicions expressed as to David's honorable intentions, and had his ambassadors treated in the most insulting manner.

The princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun - Their suspicion was not warranted either by any overt act or by any cherished design of David: it must have originated in their knowledge of the denunciations of God’s law against them (Deu_23:3-6), and of David’s policy in steadfastly adhering to it.

David sends comforters - an Israelite was forbidden to seek peace and prosperity of its enemies in the promised land nor might Ammonite enter into their congregation unto the tenth generation, Deu_23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. Even to their tenth generation they shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD forever, Some have thought that David did not do a right thing in sending this embassy,; but he acted according to the laws of friendship, and was cordial and sincere in what he did.

1Ch 19:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.

2Sa 10:4 Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.

And cut off their garments in the midst - leaving exposed what decency requires to be concealed.

shaved them - not completely, but only the half of their face. This disrespect to the beard, and indecent exposure of their persons by their clothes being cut off from the girdle downwards, was the grossest indignity to which Jews or anyone could be subjected. No wonder that the men were ashamed to appear in public - that the king recommended them to remain in seclusion on the border till the mark of their disgrace had disappeared - and then they might, with propriety, return to the court.

shaved them - Beards were important in biblical times, and still so in many cultures today. The cutting off of one-half of it was the greatest insult that could have been offered to the ambassadors, and through them to David their king. The insult was still further increased by cutting off the long dress which covered the body; the lower half of the body was quite exposed since the ancient Israelites wore no undergarments. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. Cutting off half of the beard and the clothes rendered the men ridiculous, and made them look like slaves: what was done to these men was an accumulation of insult.

1Ch 19:5 Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

2Sa 10:5 When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.

Tarry at Jericho - This city had not been rebuilt since the time of Joshua; but there were, no doubt, many cottages still remaining, and larger dwellings also, but the walls had not been repaired. As it must have been comparatively a private place, it was proper for these men to tarry in, as they would not be exposed to public notice.

told David how the men were served - Not the ambassadors, for they were not yet arrived, but some of their servants, perhaps, they sent before them to acquaint David with the events that took place.

he sent to meet them - he sent men to meet them likely with proper garments to put on, and to give them further directions. When David received information of the insults that had been heaped upon his ambassadors, he sent messengers to meet them, and direct them to remain in Jericho until their beard had grown again.

because the men were greatly ashamed – ashamed to proceed on their journey, and come to court in the condition they were:

then return - that is, to Jerusalem

1Ch 19:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.

2Sa 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

A thousand talents of silver - The price is not given in Samuel.

Chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia - These are not mentioned in the parallel place in Samuel. The Mesopotamian troops did not arrive during this campaign (1Ch_19:16). Syria-maachah lay on the north of the possessions of the trans-jordanic Israelites, near Gilead.

when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David - That their conduct rendered them abominable. One universal feeling of indignation was roused throughout Israel, and all classes supported the king in his determination to avenge this unprovoked insult on the Hebrew nation.

Zoba - Hadadezer was their king, with whom David had fought before, and beat, and who owed him a grudge on that account, and was ready to assist the Ammonites against him, 2Sa_8:3 David also struck Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

1Ch 19:7 So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.

2Sa 10:6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.

They hired thirty and two thousand chariots - The reading is likely corrupt. Such a number as 32,000 chariots alone was never brought into battle on any occasion. Compare the numbers in Exo_14:7; 1Ki_10:26; 2Ch_12:3. The largest force which an Assyrian king ever speaks of encountering is 3,940. The words “and horsemen” have probably fallen out of the text after the word “chariots”. The word here is raichev and denotes not only a chariot, but a rider (see Isa_21:7). The 32,000 would be the number of the warriors serving on horseback or in chariots; and this number would agree closely with the numbers listed 2Sa_10:6. In 2 Sam 10:6, the men of Beth-rehob and Zobah equaled 20,000. The men of Ish-tob equaled 12,000. The men of Maachah equaled 1,000 for a total of 33, 000. In this verse, the total is 32, 000 with an unknown number from Machah which is 1000 according to 2 Samuel, bringing the total to 33,000 and agreeing with the verse in 2 Samuel.

1Ch 19:8 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

2Sa 10:7 And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.

David sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men - All the forces of Israel, including the great military orders, were engaged in this war.

1Ch 19:9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.

2Sa 10:8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.

Before the gate - This was the city of Medeba, a city that lay on the borders of their country, and was a frontier town. 1Ch_19:7.

were by themselves in the field - at some distance from the city. Perhaps the Ammonites were choosing not to trust: mercenaries in it; or perhaps they placed these in ambush in the field, to get Joab between two lines.

the kings that were come were by themselves in the field - The Israelite army being thus beset by the Ammonites in front, and by the Syrian auxiliaries behind, Joab resolved to attack the latter (the more numerous and formidable host), while he directed his brother Abishai, with a suitable detachment, to attack the Ammonites. Joab’s address before the engagement displays the faith and piety that became a commander of the Hebrew people. The mercenaries being defeated, the courage of the Ammonites failed; so that, taking flight, they entrenched themselves within the fortified walls.

1Ch 19:10 Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.

2Sa 10:9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:

Before and behind - When Joab fronted this army, the other appears to have issued from the city, and to have taken him in the rear; he was therefore obliged to divide his army as here mentioned; one part to face the Syrians commanded by himself, and the other to face the Ammonites commanded by his brother Abishai.

he chose of all the choice men of Israel - the most eminent for strength, and valor, and military skill, who had been tried, and were famous for warlike exploits.

1Ch 19:11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.

2Sa 10:10 And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.

1Ch 19:12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

2Sa 10:11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.

And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me - Which he might perceive by Joab's forces giving way, or by some signal agreed on between them

1Ch 19:13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

2Sa 10:12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

for our people, and for the cities of our God - that the people of Israel might not be carried captive, and their cities spoiled and plundered; and instead of being cities where the people of God dwelt, and he was worshipped, would, if taken, become the habitations of idolatrous people, and where temples would be erected to idols. These were the arguments he used to engage them to fight manfully for their country, the liberties and religion of it:

Be of good courage - This Joab said, not only to encourage Abishai and himself, but in the hearing of the rest of the officers of the army, and of many of the people, to hearten them to the battle; who might be somewhat intimidated with the number of their enemies, and the position they were in, being before and behind them; and therefore he thought proper to make such a speech to.

the Lord do that which is good in his sight - suggesting that victory was of the Lord, and that it became them to do their part in fighting courageously, and leave the issue to the Lord, on whom alone success depended.

let us behave - In Samuel, "let us play the men;" but the Hebrew word is the same in both places, nithchazzak.

1Ch 19:14 So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.

2Sa 10:13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.

Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle - Fell upon them; attacked them first, began the battle with them, rightly judging, that if they, being hired soldiers, were closely pressed, they would give way, which would discourage the Ammonites, who depended much upon them.

1Ch 19:15 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.

2Sa 10:14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.

The Syrians were fled - They betook themselves to their own confines, while the Ammonites escaped into their own city.

Joab came to Jerusalem – in triumph, to report to David the victory he had obtained. He did not stay to lay siege to their city, the season of the year not being proper for it, winter drawing near; 2Sa_11:1 And it happened at the turn of the year, at the time kings go forth, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they destroyed the sons of Ammon and circled Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. and the Syrians were not sufficiently broken to make it safe to undertake a regular siege.

1Ch 19:16 And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

2Sa 10:15-16 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

The Syrians that were beyond the river - That is, the Euphrates.

Hadarezer - This is the same that was overthrown by David, 2Sa_8:3 and there called Hadadezer. He was at the head of this confederacy, and to whom the rest of the kings of Syria were servants, 2Sa_10:19.

1Ch 19:17 And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

2Sa 10:17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.

1Ch 19:18 But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.

2Sa 10:18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.

Seven thousand men which fought in chariots - In the parallel place, 2Sa 10:18, it is said, David slew of the Syrians men of seven hundred chariots. It is difficult to ascertain the right number in this and similar places. The frequent errors in numbers arise from the practice of expressing numerals by letters, with one or more dots or dashes to indicate hundreds, thousands, etc. Some scholars think that here the men are numbered, and in 2 Samuel, the chariots were numbered, 10 men to a chariot.

forty thousand footmen - in 2Sa 10:18 it is forty thousand horsemen.

1Ch 19:19 And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.

2Sa 10:19 And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.

Servants to Hadarezer - This gives us an idea of the great power of Hadarezer, and consequently of the strength of Israel in David’s victorious reign.

Made peace with Israel - They made this peace separately, and were obliged to pay tribute to the Israelites whereby the promise of the land of Canaan made to Abraham and his seed, as reaching to the river Euphrates, had its accomplishment, Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates. In the space of nineteen or twenty years, David had the good fortune to finish gloriously eight wars, all righteously undertaken, and all honorably terminated; 1. The civil war with Ish-bosheth. 2. The war against the Jebusites. 3. The war against the Philistines and their allies. 4. The war against the Philistines alone. 5. The war against the Moabites. 6. The war against Hadadezer. 7. The war against the Idumeans. 8. The war against the Ammonites and Syrians. This last victory was soon followed by the complete conquest of the kingdom of the Ammonites, abandoned by their allies.

1 Chronicles 18

1Ch 18:1 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.

2Sa 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

David took Gath and its towns - The full extent of David’s conquests in the Philistine territory is here distinctly stated, whereas in the parallel passage (2Sa_8:1) it was only described in a general way. Gath was the “Metheg-ammah,” or “arm-bridle,” as it is there called - either from its supremacy as the capital over the other Philistine towns, or because, in the capture of that important place and its dependencies, he obtained the complete control of his restless neighbors.

The events recorded in these three chapters are all narrated in the second book of Samuel also, and in the same order. First, there are grouped together in 1 Chronicles 18, and in 2 Sam 8, in such a manner as to afford a general view of the whole, all the wars which David carried on victoriously against all his enemies round about in the establishment of the Israelite rule, with a short statement of the results, followed by a catalogue of David's chief public officials. In 1 Chron 19 and in 2 Sam 10 we have a more detailed account of the arduous war against the Ammonites and Syrians, and in 1Ch_20:1-3 and 2Sa_12:26-31 the conclusion of the war with the capture of Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites; and finally, in 1Ch_20:4-8, we have a few short accounts of the victories of the Israelite heroes over giants from the land of the Philistines, which are inserted in 2Sa_21:18-22 as a supplement to the last section of David's history. Apart from this last section, which is to be regarded even in the Chronicle as an appendix, we find the arrangement and succession of the events to be the same in both books, since the sections which in 2Sa_9:1-13 and 2Sa_11:1-12, 2Sa_11:25, stand between the histories of the wars, contain sketches of David's family life, which the author of the Chronicle has, in accordance with his plan, omitted.

And after this it came to pass - After David had rest from his enemies for a time, and after the conversation he had had with Nathan about building the house of God, and after the message sent to him from the Lord by that prophet, forbidding him to build, and David's prayer to the Lord upon it, the following events happened; and which are recorded to show that David's rest from his enemies did not last long, and that he had other work to do than to build the house of God:

that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them - these had been long and implacable enemies of Israel; Samson began to weaken them in his days; a war was waged between them and Israel in the times of Samuel and Saul, and the battle sometimes went on one side and sometimes on the other; but now David made an entire conquest of them: before they had used to come into the land of Israel, and there fight with Israel, but now David entered into their land, and took it from them:

David took Metheg-ammah - The simple meaning of the passage is, that David wrested from the Philistines the power which the capital had possessed over the towns dependent upon it, over the whole of the land of Philistia ; in other words, he brought the capital ( Gath ) and the other towns of Philistia into his own power.

1Ch 18:2 And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

2Sa 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

And he smote Moab - He next went against that, and invaded it, the people of it being always troublesome and distressing to the children of Israel; and though the king of it had shown some favor to David, yet it was when he considered him as an enemy to Saul, and Saul to him; but things having taken a different turn, his and his people's enmity against David and his people appeared; wherefore he went and fought them, and made them his subjects, whereby was fulfilled the prophecy of Balaam, Num_24:17 I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult as it referred to David:

and brought gifts - paid a yearly tribute to King David, as they afterwards did to Solomon and to Rehoboam, until the revolt of the ten tribes, and then they paid it unto the kings of Israel .

1Ch 18:3 And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

2Sa 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

Hadarezer - He is supposed to have been king of all Syria, except Phoenicia; being attacked by David, he was totally routed. Hadad was the chief idol, or sun-god, of the Syrians.

Hadarezer — or, “Hadadezer” (2Sa_8:3), which was probably the original form of the name, was derived from Hadad, a Syrian deity. It seems to have become the official and hereditary title of the rulers of that kingdom.

as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates — in accordance with the promises God made to Israel that He would give them all the country as far as the Euphrates (Gen_15:18; Num_24:17). David, remembering the grant which God had made to his people of all the land as far as Euphrates, and having subdued his neighboring enemies, went to recover his rights, and establish his dominion as far as Euphrates.

Zobah — Its situation is determined by the words “unto” or “towards Hamath,” a little to the northeast of Damascus, and is supposed by some to be the same place as in earlier times was called Hobah (Gen_14:15). Previous to the rise of Damascus, Zobah was the capital of the kingdom which held supremacy among the petty states of Syria.

1Ch 18:4 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 an hundred chariots.

2Sa 8:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

Seven thousand horsemen - Or, seven hundred companies of horsemen, that is, in all seven thousand; as it is 1Ch_18:4, there being ten in each company, and each ten having a ruler or captain.

David took from him a thousand chariots - In 2Sa_8:4 David is said to have taken seven hundred horsemen, whereas here it is said that he took seven thousand. This great discrepancy in the text of the two narratives seems to have originated with a transcriber in confounding the two Hebrew letters which indicate the numbers, and in neglecting to mark or obscure the points over one of them. We have no means of ascertaining whether seven hundred or seven thousand be the more correct.

but reserved of them an hundred chariots - possibly to grace a triumphal procession on his return to Jerusalem, and after using them in that way, destroy them like the rest.

David houghed all the chariot horses - or hamstrung them, as Joshua was ordered to do with respect to the Canaanites, Jos_11:6 And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up, all killed before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire he did not kill them, which might seem cruel and unmerciful to the brute creatures, but hamstrung them, that they might be useless for war; and the reason of it was, that horses might not be multiplied in Israel for that purpose, that so their trust and confidence might not be placed in them; Deu_17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. The horses were thus mutilated because they were forbidden to the Hebrews, both in war and agriculture. So it was of no use to keep them. Besides, their neighbors placed much dependence on cavalry, but having, for want of a native breed, to procure them by purchase, the greatest damage that could be done to such enemies was to render their horses unserviceable in war.

1Ch 18:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

2Sa 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

1Ch 18:6 Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2Sa 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

Brought gifts - Rather, tribute; meaning they became subject and tributary or paid him tribute by way of homage, acknowledging themselves his subjects.

1Ch 18:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

2Sa 8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

David took the shields of gold - We know not what these were. Some translate arms, others quivers, others bracelets, others collars, and others shields. They were probably costly ornaments by which the Syrian soldiers were decked and distinguished.

brought them to Jerusalem - where they were laid up; Son_4:4 Your neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, on which there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 2Sa_8:11 King David also dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all nations which he subdued: David dedicated to the Lord all the gold and silver that he had taken, put it in the treasury of the sanctuary to be reserved for the future temple, and that at the end of his reign he handed over to his son and successor Solomon all the gold, silver, iron, and brass that he had collected for the purpose, to be applied to the building of the temple (1Ch_22:14., 1Ch_29:2.).

On the servants - And those who are called servants here, were probably the choice troops or body-guard of Hadadezer.

1Ch 18:8 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.

2Sa 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

1Ch 18:9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;

2Sa 8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

Hamath - This appears as an independent kingdom so late as the time of Senacherib Isa_37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? But in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, both Hamath and Arpad appear to have been incorporated in the kingdom of Damascus Jer_49:23 Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news. They are melted; anxiety is in the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Hamath - Which was another small kingdom in Syria , perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer. The Syrian prince, being delivered from the dread of a dangerous neighbor, sent his son with valuable presents to David to congratulate him on his victories, and solicit his alliance and protection.

Tou king of Hamath - whose dominions border on those of Hadadezer. Called Toi in 2Sa_8:9.

1Ch 18:10 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.

2Sa 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

Then Tou sent Hadoram his son unto King David - The name Tou is written Toi in 2 Samuel, according to a different mode of interpretation; and the name of the son is given as Joram there too, instead of Hadoram as in the text here. According to 1Ch_18:3, the territory of the king of Hamath bordered upon that of Hadadezer, and the latter had probably tried to make king Tou submit to him. The secret object of the salutation, however, was no doubt to secure the friendship of this new and powerful neighbor.

1Ch 18:11 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.

2Sa 8:11-12 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

Them also King David dedicated unto the Lord - He devoted it to sacred uses, particularly to the building of the house of the Lord, as he also had the gold and the brass he took from Hadadezer. He did not convert the spoils he took to his own use, but observed the law God gave to the kings of Israel, that they should not greatly multiply to themselves silver and gold, Deu_17:17 Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself. He set it apart, and laid it up for the service of the sanctuary; and this accounts for the abundance of gold, silver, and brass, which David had amassed together, and left to his son Solomon to build the temple with.

1Ch 18:12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

2Sa 8:13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

The valley of salt - Supposed to be a large plain abounding in this mineral, about a league from the city of Palmyra or Tadmor in the wilderness.

The valley of salt - The valley was the ravine of salt (the Ghor), adjoining the Salt Mountain , at the southwestern extremity of the Dead Sea , separating the ancient territories of Judah and Edom

Abishai slew of the Edomites - This victory is attributed to David, 2Sa_8:13. He sent Abishai against them, and he defeated them: this is with great propriety attributed to David as commander-in-chief.

1Ch 18:13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

2Sa 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

He put garrisons in Edom - To keep the inhabitants in subjection to him; as their forts and strong holds came into his hands, he placed companies of soldiers in them for the said purpose;

all they of Edom became David's servants - and hereby were fulfilled the oracle delivered to Rebekah, and the prophetic blessing of Isaac, Gen_25:23 And the LORD said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, the older shall serve the younger.

1Ch 18:14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

2Sa 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

David reigned over all Israel - Not only over Judah, but over all the tribes of Israel, and over the whole land of Canaan, as promised to Abraham, Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, reaching to the river Euphrates, as Syria did, now conquered by David:

David executed judgment and justice unto all his people - when he returned from his wars, he heard and tried all causes impartially, brought before him, and gave sentence according to the law of God, and administered righteous judgment without any respect to persons, in which he was a type of Christ.

1Ch 18:15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.

2Sa 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Recorder - one who kept a strict journal of all the proceedings of the king and operations of his army; a chronicler. Or writer of chronicles.

Recorder - The recorder seems to have been a high officer of state, a kind of chancellor, whose office was to keep a record of the events of the kingdom for the king’s information, and hence, he would naturally be the king’s adviser.

Joab was over the host - General and commander-in-chief over all the army. Which was not only owing to his relation to David, being his sister's son, but to his promise that whoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain; that is, should have the command of the army under him; this Joab did; and so was entitled to this office, and was put into it, and continued in it, 1Ch_11:6 And David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief.

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud - of whom nothing further is known.

1Ch 18:16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;

2Sa 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

Shavsha was the scribe – Some say this is the king’s private secretary. Others say the scribe was a secretary of state.

Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – On the massacre of the priests at Nob in1Sa_22:19, Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of Eleazar (1Ch_6:50), while David acknowledged Ahimelech, of Ithamar’s family, who fled to him. The two high priests exercised their office under the respective princes to whom they were attached. But, on David’s obtaining the kingdom over all Israel , they both retained their dignity; Ahimelech officiating at Jerusalem , and Zadok at Gibeon 1Ch_16:39 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place at Gibeon,

Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – Abiathar was high priest, and continued so until the time of Solomon, when he was thrust out of his office, and Zadok put into it; and Ahimelech his son and Zadok were the principal priests under him, the one of the family of Ithamar, the other of Eleazar. Zadok is mentioned first, though Ahimelech was the son of the present high priest, because he was in great favor with David, as afterwards with Solomon, in whose days the high priesthood was transferred to him; the family of Eli being now upon the decline, and near being removed from the high priesthood, as was foretold.

1Ch 18:17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

2Sa 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

The Cherethites and the Pelethites - The former supposed to be those who accompanied David when he fled from Saul; the latter, those who came to him at Ziklag. These, according to Josephus, were the king's bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards, 2Sa_23:22-23 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty ones. He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

the Cherethites and the Pelethites — who formed the royal bodyguard. The Cherethites were, most probably, those brave men who all along accompanied David while among the Philistines, and from that people derived their name (1Sa_30:14; Eze_25:16; Zep_2:5) as well as their skill in archery - while the Pelethites were those who joined him at Ziklag, took their name from Pelet, the chief man in the company (1Ch_12:3), and, being Benjamites, were expert in the use of the sling.

Pelethites — from Pelet (1Ch_12:3). They were the valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the Philistines, were made his bodyguard.

The sons of David - These were the highest in authority.

1 Chronicles 17

1Ch 17:1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

2Sa 7:1-2 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies; That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

as David sat in his house - The details of this chapter were given in nearly similar terms in 2Sa_7:1-29. The date was towards the latter end of David’s reign, for it is expressly said in the former book to have been at the cessation of all his wars. But as to narrate the preparations for the removal of the ark and the erection of the temple was the principal object of the historian, the exact chronology is not followed.

Dwelleth within curtains - in a tabernacle within curtains; not the tabernacle of Moses, for that was at Gibeon, 1Ch_21:29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon; but that which David had made for it, which consisted of curtains that were drawn around it, 2Sa_6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. It gave him a concern that he should dwell in so magnificent a palace, and the ark of God should have so mean an habitation; wherefore it was upon his mind to build a grand edifice for it, and this he suggested hereby to Nathan.

1Ch 17:2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

2Sa 7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

Nathan said to David - The piety of the design commended it to the prophet’s mind, and he gave his hasty approval and encouragement to the royal plans. In this case he gave his judgment as a pious and prudent man, not as a prophet; for prophets did not always speak under divine influence. David and he should have consulted the Lord about it; in this they erred, and for which they were tacitly reproved;

Nathan said to David - The design being pious and the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it, before he had consulted God about it, as both he and David ought to have done in a matter of so great moment. And therefore Nathan meets with this rebuke, that he is forced to acknowledge his error, and recant it. For the holy prophets did not speak all things by prophetic inspiration, but some things by an human spirit.

1Ch 17:3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

2Sa 7:4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

the word of God came to Nathan - the word of prophecy; before he was not under a prophetic influence, but spoke in his own words, and had not the word of God; but now it came to him: The command was given to the prophet on the night immediately following; that is, before David could either take any measures or incur any expenses. Because David's mistake was pious, and from an honest mind, God would not suffer him to lie long in it.

Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah . But they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom long since came to an end. The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off.

1Ch 17:4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

2Sa 7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

Go and tell David my servant - The Lord speaks very honorably and respectfully of him, owns him to be his servant in other things, though he did not choose to employ him in this.

1Ch 17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

2Sa 7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

I have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another - The literal rendering is, “I was walking in a tent and in a dwelling.” The evident intention was to lay stress upon the fact that God went from one place to another with His tent and His entire dwelling (the dwelling included not merely the tent, but the fore-courts with the altar of burnt offerings, etc.)

Have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle - Implying the frequent moving of the tabernacle, while in the wilderness, and since in the land of Canaan , first at Gilgal, then at Shiloh , afterwards at Nob, and now at Gibeon , as opposed to a settled resting in one place. Observe the constant reference to the Exodus and to the details as given in the books of Moses.

in a tent and in a tabernacle - "Tent" and "tabernacle" are distinguished; the tent was the curtains of goats' hair, and the tabernacle the linen curtains, see Exo_26:1. The one may note the curtains and hangings within, the other the frame of boards, and coverings upon it.

The Lord gave two reasons why David's proposal to build Him a temple should not be carried out: (1) He had hitherto lived in a tent in the midst of His people; (2) He had not commanded any former prince or tribe to build a temple.

1Ch 17:6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

2Sa 7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

An house of cedar - that is, a solid and magnificent temple. Beams of cedar marked a costly building. The cedar of Lebanon is a close-grained, light-colored, yellowish wood, with darker knots and veins.

spake I a word to any of the judges - In 2Sa_7:7 it is “any of the tribes” of Israel. The judges “who were commanded to feed the people,” form the more suitable antithesis to David.

1Ch 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

2Sa 7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote - a round tower of rude construction, high walled, but open at the top, in which sheep are often enclosed at night to protect them from wild beasts. The meaning is, I elevated you to the throne from a humble condition solely by an act of divine grace, and not from any antecedent merits of your own, and I enabled you to acquire renown, equal or superior to any other monarch. Your reign will ever be afterwards regarded as the best and brightest era in the history of Israel, for it will secure to the nation a settled inheritance of prosperity and peace, without any of the oppressions or disorders that afflicted them in early times.

I took thee from the sheepcote - for that was his employment, to keep his father's sheep, before he was taken into Saul's court, and married his daughter, when after his death he came to have the crown, of Israel: now this is said, not to upbraid him with his former meanness, but to observe the goodness of God unto him, and what reason he had for thankfulness.

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David - For it was taken well at his hands, in part, that it was in his heart, and he had a desire to build an house for God, though he was wrong in determining upon it without seeking the Lord; and lest he should be discouraged by the prohibition of him from building, the following things are observed to assure him it was not from disregard unto him, or displeasure at him, that he would not be employed in this service; since the Lord had given sufficient tokens of his favor to him, and with which he should be content, as having honor enough done him; it was enough that God had raised him up from a low estate to great grandeur and dignity:

1Ch 17:8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

2Sa 7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

I was with thee whithersoever thou hast walked - When he went against Goliath, when he went forth against the Philistines, when in Saul's court, when he fled from Saul, and was obliged to go to various places, God was with him protecting and preserving him, prospering and succeeding him every where, and in everything:

and have cut off all thine enemies from before you - as Saul, and others in the land of Israel , and the Philistines, and other enemies round about him, so that he had rest from them all:

1Ch 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

2Sa 7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

I will ordain a place - The land of Canaan: this the Lord had of old appointed to them, and had introduced them into and settled them in it, but not entirely and alone; in many places the Canaanites had inhabited; but now they should be expelled, and the Israelites should have the place to themselves:

neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more - when in Egypt, and in the times of the judges; all which is supposed, provided they did not depart from the Lord, but abode by his word, worship, and ordinances, and obeyed his will; for it was by their obedience they held their tenure of the land of Canaan; or all this may respect future times, when they shall be converted to the Messiah, and return to their own land, and ever continue in it, and never more be harassed and distressed.

Neither shall the children of wickedness - They shall no more be brought into servitude as they were in the time they sojourned in Egypt.

1Ch 17:10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

2Sa 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

that he will make thee an house - not only build up his family, and make that numerous, but establish the house of his kingdom; that whereas he was desirous of building an house for God, God would build up an house for him; which would be a clear proof, that though he did not think fit to make use of him in the building of his house, yet he was not cast out of his favor, nor was it to be so interpreted by himself or others.

I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house - This was the language of Nathan himself, who was specially directed to assure David, not only of personal blessing and prosperity, but of a continuous line of royal descendants.

1Ch 17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

The prophet, having detailed God’s past mercies to David, now passes on to direct prophecy, and that one of the most important in the Old Testament.

I will raise up thy seed - In one sense this refers to Solomon, David’s successor and the builder of the temple. But we have the direct authority of Peter Act_2:29-30 Men, brothers, it is permitted to say to you with plainness as to the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit upon his throne, for applying it to Christ the seed of David, and His eternal kingdom; and the title the Son of David given to the Messiah in the rabbinical writings, as well as its special application to Jesus in the New Testament, springs mainly from the acknowledged Messianic significance of this prophecy. Isa_55:3 Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Act_13:34 And that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He spoke in this way: "I will give you the holy promises of David."

I will raise up thy seed after thee - sons to succeed in the kingdom, as they did for the space of five hundred years; though here it respects one particular seed or son, even Solomon, as well as a reference to the promised Messiah. So the following words may be understood, part of his posterity in general, part of Solomon, and part of Christ only, according to the different nature of the several passages.

1Ch 17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

I will establish his throne for ever - David was a type of Christ; and concerning him the prophecy is literally true.

He shall build an house - For the fulfillment of this in the person of Solomon, see 1Ki_8:16-20. For its application to Christ, Eph_1:20-22 which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age. And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, 1Ti_3:15 But if I should delay, that you may know how you ought to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Heb_3:6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Zec_6:12-13 And speak to him, saying, So speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the Man whose name is The BRANCH! And He shall spring up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD. Even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on His throne. And He shall be a priest on His throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

I will establish his throne forever - The words show distinctly that this prophecy looks beyond the succession of the kings of Judah of the house of David, and embraces the throne of Christ according to the Angel’s interpretation given in Luk_1:31-33 And behold! You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David. And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end, where the reference to this passage cannot be mistaken. This is also brought out fully in Psa_89:29 Also I have set his seed forever, and his throne as the days of the heavens. Psa_89:36-37 His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and like a faithful witness in the heavens. Selah.

1Ch 17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

2Sa 7:14-15 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son - That is, I will be as kind unto him, and careful of him, as a father of a son; or he shall be, and appear to be my son, by adopting grace, as no doubt Solomon was, notwithstanding all his failings. This is applied to Christ, the antitypical Solomon, who was, in an higher sense, the Son of God, even by natural and eternal generation; Heb_1:5 For to which of the angels did He say at any time, "You are My Son, this day I have begotten You?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?"

I will not take my mercy away from him - He will not cut off his family from the throne, as He did that of his predecessor Saul. Should his misconduct call for personal chastisement, God will spare his family. If He sees it necessary to withdraw His favor and help for a time, it will be a corrective discipline only to reform and restore, not to destroy.

I will not take my mercy away from him - His house shall be a lasting house, and he shall die in the throne of Israel, his children succeeding him; and the spiritual seed, Christ, possessing and ruling in that throne to the end of time. The family of Saul became totally extinct; the family of David remained till the incarnation. Joseph and Mary were both of that family; Jesus was the only heir to the kingdom of Israel ; he did not choose to sit on the secular throne, he ascended the spiritual throne, and now he is exalted to the right hand of God, a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins.

as I took it from him who was before thee - and therefore must be understood of his mercy and kindness, in giving him a kingdom, and setting him on the throne; this should not be taken away from him, as it was from Saul, whom God rejected from being king; not him personally, but his posterity.

1Ch 17:14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

I will settle him in my house - God here asserts His right of supreme sovereignty in Israel. David and Solomon, with their successors, were only the vicegerents whom He nominated, or, in His providence, permitted. Strictly and properly this expression agrees with Christ, to whom alone that promise also of an everlasting establishment in this kingdom belongs.

1Ch 17:15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

2Sa 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision - All the words of this prophecy, just as they were delivered to Nathan, were exactly expressed by him; he did not vary from them in the least, but with the greatest faithfulness related them:

so did Nathan speak unto David - it was contrary to the advice which he had given; but he was not ashamed to retract his sense, when he was made acquainted with the mind of God.

1Ch 17:16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

2Sa 7:18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

Sat before the Lord - In the tent where the ark was. It appears that a sitting posture was sometimes used in prayer. David's prayer consists of two parts - thanksgiving for the promise (1 Chronicles 17:16-22), and supplication for its fulfillment (1 Chronicles 17:23-27). The thanksgiving consists of a confession of unworthiness of all the great things that the Lord had hitherto done for him, and which He had still further increased by this glorious promise, and praise to the Lord that all this had been done in proof of His true Deity, and to glorify His name upon His chosen people Israel.

he said, who am I, O Lord God - a creature, a sinful creature, a mean and unworthy one, undeserving of a place in the house of God, and of access unto him, and to receive any favor from him, less than the least of all saints, less than the least of all mercies:

he said, who am I, O Lord God - These words recall Jacob's prayer in Gen_32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have done to Your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two bands. David acknowledged himself to be unworthy of the great mercy which the Lord had displayed towards him, that he might give the glory to God alone.

he said, who am I, O Lord God - David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honorably of the Lord's favors to him.

and what is my house - or family, the family of Jesse; for though it sprung from a prince in Israel , yet was but low and mean, in comparison of some others, and especially unworthy of the regard of the great God:

that thou hast brought me hitherto - to such grandeur and dignity, as to be king over all Israel and Judah, to have all his enemies subdued under him, and to be at peace and rest from them, and established in his kingdom; and which he signifies the Lord alone had brought him to, through many difficulties and tribulations, and which he could never have attained unto by his own wisdom and power, nor by the assistance of his friends; it was all the Lord's doing, and wondrous in his eyes.

1Ch 17:17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

2Sa 7:19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

1Ch 17:18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

2Sa 7:20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

For the honor of thy servant - The Septuagint omits “Thy servant” 1Ch 17:18 What shall David do more toward thee to glorify [thee]? and thou knowest thy servant (Septuagint)

1Ch 17:19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

2Sa 7:21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

according to thine own heart - of his own sovereign good will and pleasure, of his own grace, not according to the merits and deserts of David:

for your servant’s sake - It is very observable that what in 2 Samuel is said to be, “for thy word's sake,” is here said to be, “for thy servant's sake”. Jesus Christ is both the Word of God, Rev_19:13 And He had been clothed in a garment dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God and the Servant of God, Isa_42:1 Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; My Elect, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring out judgment to the nations and it is for his sake, upon account of his mediation, that the promises are made good to all believers; it is in him, that they are yea and amen. For His sake it is done, for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness, from him we are to expect all these great things. They are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which, if by faith we see in themselves, and see in the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify as the only true greatness, and speak honorably of them. For this blessedness may we look amidst the trials of life, and when we feel the hand of death upon us; and seek it for our children after us.

1Ch 17:20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

2Sa 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

neither is there any God beside thee - there is but one God, the living and true God, the former and maker of all things; all others are but fictitious and factitious gods.

according to all that we have heard with our ears - concerning what he did in the land of Egypt upon the Egyptians, and in the wilderness, in favor of the Israelites, and in the land of Canaan, by driving out the inhabitants before the people of Israel, and in the times of the judges, in raising them up to deliver his people.

1Ch 17:21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

2Sa 7:23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel - For the knowledge and worship of the true God among them, for laws and or given them, and for blessings of goodness bestowed upon them:

1Ch 17:22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

2Sa 7:24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

thou, Lord becamest their God - their covenant God, they having avouched him to be their God, and he having avouched them to be his people, Deu_26:17-19 You have today said that the LORD is your God, and that you would walk in His ways, and keep His statutes and His commandments and His judgments, and listen to His voice. And the LORD has taken you today to be His peculiar people, as He has promised you, and to keep all His commandments, and to make you high above all nations which he has made, in praise and in name and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, even as He has spoken.

1Ch 17:23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

2Sa 7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

And now, O Lord God - From confessions of unworthiness, and of the goodness of God, and a recital of favors conferred on him and the people of Israel , David proceeds to petitions.

1Ch 17:24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

2Sa 7:26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

thy name be magnified for ever - David desired the performance of the above things not so much for his own sake, and for the sake of his family, as for the glory of God; his great concern was, that God might be magnified, and his greatness displayed, in making him and his family great; and particularly that he might be magnified and glorified in that famous Son of his, the Messiah, as he has been, Joh_13:31 Then when he had left, Jesus said, Now the Son of man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. and by all his people in succeeding ages:

1Ch 17:25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

2Sa 7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

Thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee -David felt himself encouraged to offer this prayer through the revelation which he had received.

1Ch 17:26 And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

2Sa 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

1Ch 17:27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

2Sa 7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant - Not according to the merits of him or his family, but according to the sovereign will and pleasure of God;

Blessed for ever - David's prayer concludes, as God's promise did, 1Ch_17:14, with that which is for ever. God's word looks at things eternal. And so should our desires and hopes.