1 Chronicles 18:12

(12) Moreover Abishai . . .—Heb., And Abishai son of Zeruiah had smitten Edom in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand.

In Samuel we read something quite different: “And David made a name, when he returned from his smiting Aram.” “Aram” should be read Edom, as the LXX., Syriac, and Arabic have it. Perhaps, also, the text of Samuel is further corrupted. (Comp. 1Ki_11:15. and Psalms 60, title.) From a comparison of the three passages it appears that Edom took advantage of David’s absence to invade Judah, whereupon the king detached a column of his forces, and sent them south under Joab and Abishai to repulse the new enemy.

Valley of salt.—2Ki_14:7.

(12, 13) The reduction of Edom. The paragraph mark should be at 1Ch_18:12, not 1Ch_18:13.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Which is understood that Joab slew twelve thousand, as is in the title of the threescore Psalm and Abishai the rest.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 12. 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; qui facit per alterum, facit per se.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. Abishai the son of Zeruiah] In 2Sa_8:13 David, and in Psalms 60 (title) Joab, receives the credit of this victory. Probably Abishai commanded in the battle, while Joab (cp. 1Ki_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 2Sa_8:13.

the valley of salt] Probably the marshy flat (Bädeker, p. 144) at the S. end of the Dead Sea. This valley is dominated by the Jebel Usdum, a hill consisting “almost entirely of pure crystallised salt” (Bädeker, p. 143).

eighteen thousand] Psalms 60 (title), “twelve thousand,” not an important variation.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Edomites. David seems to have been present, and the victory is sometimes attributed to him. Joab afterwards slew 18,000, 3 Kings xi. 15., and title of Psalm ix. (St. Jerome, Trad.) (Calmet) --- Pits. This place was fatal to that nation: there Amasias destroyed 20,000, 2 Paralipomenon xxv. 12. (Tirinus)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Abishai slew of the Edomites. The parallel place omits to say that it was by aid of Abishai that David slew these eighteen thousand Edomites. They are there called Syrians, which reading is at all events in keeping with the Aram of the previous verse. Abishai, here named son of Zeruiah, possibly served under "Joab son of Zeruiah" (ver. 15), who is spoken of (1Ki_11:15, 1Ki_11:16) as very trenchant in this Edomite war, without any mention being made of Abishai. Psalm 60. (title) probably speaks of an instalment of the eighteen thousand spoken of here, as the nation now suffered all but extermination. The valley of salt. (Situate in 1Ki_11:14-17; 2Ki_14:7; 2Ch_25:11) The word here used for "valley" is ayGe, (Psa_23:4) not the more generic word qm,e, and signifies rather "ravine." The phrase occurs twice with the article expressed, jl; M,j ayge. The place is celebrated also for the achievements of Amaziah (in references just given), who proceeded hence with ten thousand prisoners, to precipitate them down the cliff, i.e. Petra (lSh 2Ch_25:12) The real situation of this place is still doubtful. Since the time of the German traveller Geethen ("Reisen," 2:356), and of Robinson ("Bibl. Res.," 2:109), it has been generally assumed to be a tract of land extending some six miles south of the Dead Sea, and bounded at that distance by the range of hills which there runs across the country; but beside the consideration that the word "ravine" could not describe that tract of country, there are others very unfavourable to the supposition (see these carefully stated by Grove, in Smith"s "Bible Dictionary," 3:1097).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Abishai

Nephew of David, brother to Joab. 2Sa 23:18; 1Ch 2:16.

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Abishai ... Zeruiah

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

eighteen thousand Edomites

"18,000 Edomites" (See: Numbers)

Valley of Salt

This is the name of a valley between Edom and Judah that was used as a battlefield.

translationWords

Edom

David

servant

Yahweh

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.