1 Chronicles 18:12

_MOREOVER ABISHAI THE SON OF ZERUIAH SLEW OF THE EDOMITES IN THE VALLEY OF SALT EIGHTEEN THOUSAND._ Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of Salt eighteen thousand. The conduct of the Edomites having provoked a war, David sent an army into their country, subdued it, and made it a tributary province of his kingdom (cf. 2 Samuel 8:13). 'At the southern extremity of the Dead Sea is a marshy flat, called by the Arabs el-Ghor probably the place where David defeated the Edomites, and which in Scripture is called "the valley of Salt." This plain in winter is often overflowed. Afterward, when the rains cease, the waters recede, and a salt, bituminous, slimy morass remains behind, which, seen from afar, from the glittering of the particles of salt, has the appearance of a sheet of water, but on a nearer approach reveals its true character' (Van de

Verse 1 Chronicles 18:12. _ABISHAI - SLEW OF THE EDOMITES_] This victory is attributed to _David_, 2 Samuel 8:13. He sent Abishai against them, and he defeated them: this is with great propriety attributed to David as commander-in-chief; _qui facit per alterum, facit per se_....

EXPOSITION The course of last chapter's parallel is continued here, and answers closely to 2 Samuel 8:1. The present chapter contains the wars and victories of David (2 Samuel 8:1), with the arrangements consequent upon them; and (2 Samuel 8:14-10) an enumeration of some of his chief officers. 1 CHRONICLES 18:1 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_

See Gill "1Ch 18:1"....

ABISHAI Nephew of David, brother to Joab. (2 Samuel 23:18); (1 Chronicles 2:16)....

8. DAVID'S WARS AND SUCCESSFUL REIGN CHAPTER 18 _ 1. War with the Philistines (1 Chronicles 18:1)_ 2. War with Moab (1 Chronicles 18:2) 3. War with Zobah (1 Chronicles 18:3) 4. War with Damascus (1 Chronicles 18:5) 5. Wars with Edom (1 Chronicles 18:12) 6. David's administration (1 Chronicles 18:14) After such glorious experiences David went f

DAVID'S WARS (see notes on 2 Samuel 8). GATH AND HER TOWNS: lit. and her daughters; in 2 Samuel 8:1 the words the bridle of the mother city are probably corrupt. 1 Chronicles 18:17. the sons of David were chief about the king: the words in 2 Samuel 8:18, and David's sons were priests, were altered by the Chronicler, who held that only the descendants of _Aaron_ could be priests....

EIGHTEEN THOUSAND. This was Abishai's command. In 2 Samuel 8:13 we have David's command; while in Psalms 60 (title, Psalms 60:1) we have Joab's share in the campaign (1 Kings 11:16). There is no contradiction, but independent and separate exploits. Abishai's number was 18,000. We do not know how long Abishai's took him. Joab's (which took him six months longer) was 10,000....

_Abishai the son of Zeruiah_ In 2 Samuel 8:13 David, and in Psalms 60 (title) Joab, receives the credit of this victory. Probably Abishai commanded in the battle, while Joab (cp. 1 Kings 11:16) completed the conquest of the country. _of the Edomites_ Lit. "of Edom," so Psalms 60 (title), but in 2 Sam. "of the Syrians," lit. "Aram." The two words "Edom" and "Aram" when written in Heb. are very much alike and are easily confused. The reading "Edom" is right here. Cp. Kirkpatrick on 2 Samuel 8:13. _the valley of salt_ Probably the marshy flat (Bäde

10. WAR WITH MOAB, PHILISTIA, AND SYRIA (Chapter 18) TEXT 1 Chronicles 18:1. And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines. 2. And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute. 3. And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates. 4. And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. 5. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadarezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. 6. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Je