1 Chronicles 18:9

Here let us learn, 1. That it is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them. The king of Hamath, hearing of David's great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble present, Ch1 18:9, Ch1 18:10. It is in vain to contend with the Son of David. Kiss the Son, therefore, lest he be angry; let the kings and judges of the earth, and all inferior people too, be thus wise, thus instructed. The presents we are to bring him are not vessels of gold and silver, as here (those shall be welcomed to him who have no such presents to bring), but our hearts and sincere affections, our whole selves, we must present to him as living sacrifices. 2. That what God blesses us with we must honour him with. The presents of his friends, as well as the spoils of his enemies, David dedicated unto the Lord (Ch1 18:11), that is, he laid them up towards the building and enriching of the temple. That is most truly and most comfortably our own which we have consecrated unto the Lord, and which we use for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord, Isa 23:18. 3. That those who take God along with them whithersoever they go may expect to prosper, and be preserved, whithersoever they go. It was said before (Ch1 18:6) and here it is repeated (Ch1 18:13) that the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went. Those are always under the eye of God that have God always in their eye. 4. God gives men power, not that they may look great with it, but that they may do good with it. When David reigned over all Israel he executed judgment and justice among all his people, and so answered the end of his elevation. He was not so intent on his conquests abroad as to neglect the administration of justice at home. Herein he served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits in the throne judging right; and he was an eminent type of the Messiah, the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Tou--or Toi--whose dominions border on those of Hadadezer. (See on Sa2 8:9-12; Kg1 11:15).

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 9. Tou king of Hamath] Called Toi in 2Sa 8:9.

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

(9) Now when . . .—And Tou king of Hamath heard. Samuel, “Toi.” The Hebrew letters answering to w and y are often confused in MSS. Tô-û is right; so LXX. and Vulg. in Samuel; Syriac, “Thû‘;” Arabic, “Tû‘u;” The Syriac here has “Phûl king of the Antiochenes” (!); the Arabic, “Phâwîl king of Antioch,” an apparent allusion to Pul the Assyrian (1Ch_5:26). Professor Sayce believes he has read the name Tu-ve-es—that is, Toü—on the stones from Hamath, now in the British Museum.

(9, 10) The King of Hamath’s embassy to David.

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

9. Tou] In 2Sa_8:9 “Toi” (so Heb., but LXX. “Tou”).

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.

Tou. In the parallel place, spelt Toi. Nothing else is known of this King of Hamath, who now proffers his congratulations to David.

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

The Edomites Subdued

v. 9. Now, when Tou, king of Ramath, a province in the extreme north, on the Orontes, heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer, king of Zobah,

v. 10. he sent Hadoram (or Joram), his son, to King David, to enquire of his welfare, with the usual greeting of peace, and to congratulate him, with the blessings of good wishes, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him, (for Hadarezer, desiring the supremacy over the entire surrounding country, had war with Tou, a state of war existed between them,) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass, in token of his friendship and esteem.

v. 11. Them also King David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations, set aside for the use of the Lord in the treasury of the Sanctuary: from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, whose territory was northeast of the Dead Sea, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek, whom he had overthrown after they had plundered Ziklag in his absence, 1 Samuel 30.

v. 12. Moreover, Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, slew of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, at the southwestern end of the Dead Sea, eighteen thousand. They had ventured an attack upon Judah in the absence of David, while he was in the north, but were decisively defeated before they had done any harm.

v. 13. And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David’s servants, his tributary vassals. Cf 2Sa 8:14. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

v. 14. So David, in consequence of all these successful wars, reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment, in deciding all matters brought before him, and justice, in sentencing the unjust, among all his people.

v. 15. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was over the host, the commander-in-chief of the army; and Jehoshaphat, the son of Ahilud, recorder, chancellor of the kingdom.

v. 16. And Zadok, the son of Ahitub, of the line of Eleazar, and Abimelech, the son of Abiathar, of Ithamar’s line, were the priests; and Shavsha (or Seraiah) was scribe, secretary of state;

v. 17. and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, the body-guard of the king; and the sons of David were chief about the king, his privy councilors, 2Sa 8:18. David is a type and example for all believers. Like him, they work and battle all their lives for the extension of the kingdom of Jesus, serving Him gladly with body and soul.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Tou ... Hadoram

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

fought against

"been at war with"

set these objects apart to Yahweh

"decided that these objects would only be used to worship Yahweh"

he carried away from all the nations

"David took from all the nations that he defeated"

translationWords

king

Hamath

David

bless

silver

Yahweh

nation

Edom

Moab

Ammon

Philistines

Amalek

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