John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 18:1-17
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The parallel place ( 2 Samuel 8:4 ) omits, probably by error merely, the word "chariots," and reads for our seven thousand, "seven hundred." As the form of expression in the last two clauses of our present verse is the same in both cases, it is more natural to render , David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved a hundred , i.e. a hundred horses unhoughed; he houghed all but a hundred. Our Authorized Version, in the parallel, gets over the difficulty by inserting "for," i.e. ... read more
David’s fame (18:1-22:1)Before speaking further of the temple, the writer lists a number of David’s victories in war. These records show how God was strengthening David’s kingdom according to his promise, but they show also why God would not allow David to build the temple. One who had caused so much bloodshed was not a suitable person to build the nation’s sacred place of worship (see 22:7-10).The writer records victories over miscellaneous enemies (18:1-17; see notes on 2 Samuel 8:1-18);... read more
seven thousand. See note on 2 Samuel 8:4 an = for an. read more
1 Chronicles 18:4. David—houghed all the chariot-horses, &c.— David destroyed all the chariots, save a hundred, which he reserved. Houbigant. We observe, once for all, upon these chapters, that having enlarged on the subjects of them in the notes on Samuel, we shall make our annotations on them very short. read more
4-8. And David took from him a thousand chariots—(See on :-). In 2 Samuel 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... read more
David’s victories over his enemies chs. 18-20These chapters record the fulfillment of God’s promised victory over David’s enemies as part of the Davidic Covenant (1 Chronicles 17:8). David was successful because God was with him and helped him (1 Chronicles 18:6; 1 Chronicles 18:13; cf. 1 Chronicles 19:19). [Note: For a good explanation of the difference between 18:17 and 2 Samuel 8:18, see G. J. Wenham, "Were David’s Sons Priests?" Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 87:1... read more
David’s Wars and Officers of StateThis chapter is closely parallel to 2 Samuel 8:1-18, but with some variations in names and numbers.1. Gath] probably meant to explain the difficult phrase ’Metheg-ammah’ which occurs in 2 Samuel 8:1. Gath was independent in the time of Solomon: 1 Kings 2:39. 3. Hadarezer] 2 Samuel 8:3 has ’Hadadezer,’ which is more correct,’ Hadad’ being the name of a Syrian god and ’Hadadezer’ being a formation parallel to ’Eliezer.’4. An hundred chariots] RV ’for an hundred... read more
(4) A thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen.—Hebrew text of Samuel, “a thousand and seven hundred horsemen.” The territory of Zobah lay somewhere in the great plain of Aram. Hadadezer would, therefore, be strong in chariots and horses, and our reading is probably correct. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 19:18.)Houghed.—Hamstrung—i.e., cut the sinews of the hind legs, so as to disable them.Chariot horses.—The same Hebrew term has just been rendered chariots. It means also chariot soldiers.David... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 18:1-8
After this, it is said (1 Chron. 18:1), David did those great exploits. After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, he went on his work with extraordinary vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. Thus Jacob, after his vision, lifted up his feet, Gen. 29:1. We have taken a view of these victories before, and shall now only observe, 1. Those that have been long enemies to the Israel of God will be brought down at last. The... read more