1 Chronicles 18:1

EXPOSITION

The course of last chapter's parallel is continued here, and answers closely to 2 Samuel 8:1-18 . The present chapter contains the wars and victories of David ( 2 Samuel 8:1-13 ), with the arrangements consequent upon them; and ( 2 Samuel 8:14-17 ) an enumeration of some of his chief officers.

Took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines ; literally, her daughters. The compiler of Chronicles gives us this plain statement where, in the parallel place, we find, "took Metheg-ammah," or more exactly, Metheg-ha-ammah , the explanation of which word (see 2 Samuel 8:1 ) is not yet ascertained. Its literal signification is "the bridle or curb of the mother city," and may mark a special strong position which commanded Gath, or it may describe Gath as owning itself to such a position. Gesenius understands it to mean that David "subjected the metropolis of the Philistines to himself," quoting the Arabian proverb, To give one s bridle to any one, as equivalent to submitting to him. He quotes also Job 30:11 . It may be noted that Ammah is spoken of ( 2 Samuel 2:24 ) as the name of a hill, otherwise unknown, however. Although David subdued so many places, he reigned over them, i.e , over many of them, still by "their own kings" ( 1 Kings 4:24 ; 2 Chronicles 9:26 ). Hence we find Gath with a king still in 1 Kings 2:39 .