1 Chronicles 18:3

DAVID SMITES HADADEZER AND THE SYRIANS. (Ch1 18:3-17)

Hadarezer--or, "Hadadezer" (Sa2 8:3), which was probably the original form of the name, was derived from Hadad, a Syrian deity. It seems to have become the official and hereditary title of the rulers of that kingdom.

Zobah--Its situation is determined by the words "unto" or "towards Hamath," a little to the northeast of Damascus, and is supposed by some to be the same place as in earlier times was called Hobah (Gen 14:15). Previous to the rise of Damascus, Zobah was the capital of the kingdom which held supremacy among the petty states of Syria.

as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates--Some refer this to David, who was seeking to extend his possessions in one direction towards a point bordering on the Euphrates, in accordance with the promise (Gen 15:18; Num 24:17). But others are of opinion that, as David's name is mentioned (Ch1 18:4), this reference is most applicable to Hadadezer.

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

1Ch 18:3. David smote Hadarezer, as he went to establish his dominion — Such is the uncertainty of this world, that many times men lose their wealth and power, then when they think to confirm them. The meaning of the words, however, may be, that as David went to establish his own dominion, this king of Zobah came out to oppose him, and therefore David smote him. See on 2Sa 8:3.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Or, Hadadezer.

Or, Euphrates.

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

(3) Hadarezer.—Samuel, “Hadadezer” (Hadad is help), which is correct. Hadad was a Syrian god, identical with Dadda (Rimmon), worshipped from the Euphrates to Edom and North Arabia. Comp. the royal names Benhadad and Abdadad (i.e., servant of Hadad, like Obadiah, servant of Iahu), which last occurs on Syrian coins, and the Notes on 2Ki_5:18; 1Ch_1:46. Samuel adds. “son of Rehob.”

Zobah unto Hamath.—Rather, Zobah towards Hamath. The word (Hãmáthâh; not in Samuel) defines the position of Zobah. (Comp. 2Sa_8:8; Eze_47:16.) The town of Zobah lay somewhere near Emesa (Horns), and not far from the present Yabrûd, north-east of Damascus. (The Assyrian monarch Assurbanipal mentions the towns of Yabrudu and Cubiti—i.e., Zobah—in his Annals.) Its kings are spoken of in 1Sa_14:47. Hadadezer appears to have brought the whole country under a single sceptre.

Hamath.—See 1Ch_13:5, and 2Ch_8:4. The town lay in the valley of the Upper Orontes, west of Zobah, and north of Hermon and Damascus.

As he (Hadadezer) went.—The occasion intended appears to be that whereof the particulars are given at 1Ch_19:16-19.

To stablish his dominion.—Heb., to set up his hand—i.e., “his power.” Samuel has a different word, to recover his power, or repeat his attack.

The river Euphrates.—The Hebrew text of Samuel has “the river.” Our text explains.

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

3. Hadarezer] So spelt in 2Sa_10:16-19, but in 2Sa_8:3-12, Hadadezer, the right form (as inscriptions shew).

Zobah unto Hamath] Render as R.V. mg. Zobah by Hamath, the position of Zobah being fixed by the note that it was near Hamath.

Hamath] The modern Hama on the Orontes, midway between Antioch and Damascus, but somewhat further to the E. than either. Bädeker, p. 396; Kirkpatrick on 2Sa_8:9.

as he went to stablish his dominion] He refers to David. 2Sa_8:3 reads, to recover his dominion (R.V.). Saul had probably gained some dominion on the Euphrates in his war with Zobah (1Sa_14:47), which was lost in the confusion which followed his death. David now recovers it.

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.

Adarezer, or Adadezer, 2 Kings. --- When he, the king of Soba, went to extend. Hebrew, "to strengthened his hand on the," &c. --- Hand often denotes power, extent, possession.

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).

Ver. 3. Hadarezer; in the parallel places, Hadadezer; though our present form is found both in Samuel (e.g. 2Sa_10:16) and in other places in Chronicles, yet in all these places some manuscripts show Hadadezer (see Gesenius, "Lexicon," sub voce). Zobah. Part of Syria, east of Hamath, and for the most part of Coelo-Syria, north of Damascus, and stretching in the direction of the Euphrates. Possibly it is one with Ptolemy"s Zake (1Sa_14:47; 2Sa_8:3-10 2Sa_10:9; 1Ki_11:23-25) Hamath. In the valley of the Orontes, the northern boundary of the Holy Land. It is traceable from the time of the Exodus (Gen_10:18; Num_13:21 Num_34:8) to that of the Prophet Amos. (Amo_6:12) Though in Zobah, it is probably not the Hamath-Zobah of 2Sa_8:3. To stablish his dominion. In the parallel place, "to restore," i.e. , no doubt, to endeavour to do so, and that against the growing force of David. He had already suffered at the hand of Saul. (1Sa_14:47, 1Sa_14:48)

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

David then defeated Hadadezer

Here David and Hadadezer are spoken of as if they were alone, but the reader should understand that these kings represent their armies that were with them. AT: "David and his army then defeated the army of Hadadezer" (See: Metonymy)

Hadadezer

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

Zobah

This is the name of a country.

was traveling to establish his rule by the Euphrates River

"was going to the Euphrates river to conquer people in that area"

a thousand chariots

"1,000 chariots" (See: Numbers)

seven thousand horsemen

These are soldiers who rode on horses. "7,000 horsemen" (See: Numbers)

twenty thousand footmen

These are soldiers who walked. "20,000 footmen" (See: Numbers)

hamstrung all the chariot horses

David had his soldiers cut the hamstring muscles on the backs of the horses' thighs so they would no longer be able to run.

reserved

to keep for a special use

a hundred chariots

"100 chariots" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

Hamath

rule

Euphrates River

chariot

horseman

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

And David smote Hadadezer, king of Zobah, in Hamath The war took place in Hamath, and in Hamath David smote them.

in Hamath - Heb. חֲמָתָה, like לְחַמָת, to Hamath.

to establish his power Its meaning is: when he went to establish his power, to restore his boundary and to establish it by the Euphrates River, for he was restoring to the boundary (sic) of the Euphrates River. An example is (Sam. II 18:18): “And Absalom took and established for himself in his lifetime, etc., and he called it Yad Absalom,” meaning the power of the boundary of Absalom. Another explanation of, “and he called it Yad Absalom”: Absalom engraved the form of the length of his hand in the middle of the monument, as it is written in that verse, that he said that this engraving was engraved after the shape of Absalom’s hand. (I heard this from Isaac the son of Rabbi Samuel in Narbonne.)

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.