1 Chronicles 18:2

18:2-13 David’s conquests east of the Jordan River took place in stages. The conquest of Moab in the south gave David firm control over the plateau north of the Arnon River. David’s victory over the Aramean alliance under Hadadezer brought him into alliance with King Toi of Hamath, an archenemy of Hadadezer (18:9-11). With the defeat of Ammon and the Arameans east of the Jordan, David extended his control over the southern expanses of Edom and gained access to a southern seaport (18:12-13).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, paid tribute.

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

he smote Moab--The terrible severities by which David's conquest of that people was marked, and the probable reason of their being subjected to such a dreadful retribution, are narrated (Sa2 8:2).

the Moabites . . . brought gifts--that is, became tributary to Israel.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 2. Brought gifts] Were laid under tribute.

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

(2) Much abridged, as compared with Samuel. After the words “he smote Moab,” we read there of a partial massacre of the conquered. The emission is scarcely due to any unfair bias on the part of the chronicler. Indeed, as a Jew, possessed with all the national exclusiveness and hatred of the aliens who always misunderstood and sometimes cruelly oppressed his people, he was not likely to regard the slaughter of captive Moabites from a modern point of view. (Comp. Ezr_6:21; Ezr_6:9-10; Neh_2:19; Neh_2:4; Neh_2:6; Neh_2:13) Besides, he has related the cruel treatment of the Ammonite prisoners (1Ch_20:3). (See the prophecy, Num_24:17.)

And the Moabites became.—Literally, and they became—viz., Moab. The name of the country denotes the people. Samuel has “and Moab [i.e., the country] became” (verb singular feminine).

David’s servants.—Samuel, “to David for servants.”

And brought gifts.—Literally, bringers of an offering—i.e., tribute. Similar notices are common in the Assyrian inscriptions. (Comp. 1Ki_4:21; 2Ki_3:4; and the famous Moabite inscription of which the fragments are now in the Louvre, and which records Mesha’s revolt against the successor of Ahab.)

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

2. smote Moab] The Chronicler at this point omits, as he often omits, some obscure words of Samuel. 2Sa_8:2 seems to say that David put two thirds of the Moabites (presumably the warriors) to death, but the meaning of the verse is uncertain.

brought gifts] R.V. brought presents, i.e. tribute. It is the action of an inferior acknowledging the superiority of another. The same Heb. phrase (translated “bring an offering”) is used Psa_96:8 of sacrificing to Jehovah.

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.

Gifts. Hebrew mincha, a word used to denote the offerings of bread, &c., Leviticus ii. Here it signifies the tribute (Calmet) imposed on the conquered. (Haydock)

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).

Brought gifts; i.e. in the light of tribute and of acknowledgment of subjection. There are curious additions to this passage in the parallel place, telling the punishment inflicted on Moab: "He smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground i.e. causing them to lie prostrate; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive." This appears to mean that he put to death two parts of them, and kept the third part alive. The reason of this deliberate and severe punishment is not stated. Once David and the Moabites had been on very different terms. (1Sa_22:3, 1Sa_22:4; but see Psa_60:8)

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