1 Chronicles 19:16

SHOPHACH SLAIN BY DAVID. (Ch1 19:16-19)

And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel--(See on Sa2 10:15-19).

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

16. the Syrians that were beyond the river] i.e. the Syrians of “Mesopotamia”; cp. 1Ch_19:6, note. 2Sa_10:16 adds, and they came to Helam; the position of Helam however is unknown, but it was probably not far from the Euphrates.

Shophach] In 2Sa_10:16 called “Shobach.” The whole allied army was united under one general.

16–19. The End of the Aramaean War

Three stages are apparent in the war with Zobah, (a) that in which David secured a position on the Euphrates, 1Ch_18:3-8, (b) the stage during which troops from Zobah acted as auxiliaries to the Ammonites, 1Ch_19:6-15, (c) the final stage which ended la the conclusion of a formal peace, ib. 1Ch_19:16-19.

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.

1Ch_19:16-18

Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him.

The war-cry

I. The purpose for which they fought.

II. The method in which they fought.

1. A wise economy of forces.

2. A determination to render mutual help.

III. The spirit in which they fought.

1. Of exalted courage.

2. Of true patriotism.

3. Of submission to God. (J. Wolfendale.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19:16-19 In the battle against the Arameans, David accomplished three objectives: He challenged Hadadezer’s supremacy, threw the alliance of the Arameans into disarray, and prevented any possible future alliance between the Arameans and the Ammonites.

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

That is, Euphrates.

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

(16) They sent messengers.—Samuel, “Hadarezer sent and drew forth” (literally, made to come out: i.e., to war, 1Ch_20:1). The name “Hadarezer” (Hadadezer) is important, as helping us to identify this campaign with that of 1Ch_18:3-8.

Beyond the river.—The Euphrates, called Purât, Purâtu, by the Babylonians and Assyrians, Furât by the Arabs, and Ufrâtus by the ancient Persians. The name is derived from the Accadian Pura-nunu (great river). The Assyrian Purât, Hebrew Pĕrâth, is simply the word Pura with a feminine ending; so that this well-known name means “The River par excellence. (Comp. Gen_15:18; Isa_8:7.)

The use of this phrase, “beyond the river,” to denote the position of the Eastern Aramæans, shows that the narrative here borrowed by the chronicler was originally written in Palestine. The Syriac and Arabic add here, “and they came to Hîlâm.” (So Samuel; see next verse.)

Shophach.—Samuel, “Shobach.” The letters p and b are much alike in Hebrew. The Syriac has Sh’bûk. Shophach may be compared with the Arabic safaka, “to shed blood” (saffâk, a shedder of blood).

Went before them.—Commanded them. It thus appears that the suzerainty of Hadadezer was recognised by some Aramæan States lying east of the Euphrates.

(16-19) The last effort of the Arameans. They are defeated, and become vassals to David.

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

River, in Mesopotamia. Joab did not allow them time to arrive. --- Sophach, or Sobac. Adarezer sent also to collect these forces, 2 Kings.

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).

Beyond the river; i.e. the river Euphrates. Shophach. In the parallel place spelt Shobach. Of him nothing else is known except his death, as recorded in ver. 18 and in 2Sa_10:18.

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

The Syrians Overthrown

v. 16. And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river, those from Mesopotamia proper, who had not come down for this campaign; and Shophach (or Shobach), the captain of the host of Hadarezer, went before them, as commander-in-chief of the united Syrian forces.

v. 17. And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, the entire military forces of his realm, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, evidently as they were approaching to attack him, and set the battle in array against them. This was at Helam, 2Sa 10:16-17. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.

v. 18. But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach, the captain of the host. In combining this account with that of 2Sa 10:18, we have the total list of those destroyed: 7,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 40,000 footmen.

v. 19. And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, that they were utterly defeated, having no chance to stand up before David’s men, they made peace with David and became his servants, tributary vassals once more; neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more, Thus the Lord crowns the labor of His believers with success, He lets their battles result in victory, all for the honor of His name, even if the spiritual victories are not always apparent to human eyes.

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

General Information:

Verses 16-19 describes a second battle when the Arameans who fled from Joab in 1 Chronicles 19:15 were reinforced by other Arameans and attacked Israel again.

the Arameans saw

What the Arameans understood is spoken of as what they saw. AT: "the Arameans understood" (See: Metonymy)

sent for reinforcements

"requested more soliders"

Shophak ... Hadadezer

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

When David was told this

This can be stated in active form. AT: When David's messengers told him that a larger Aramean army was coming" (See: Active or Passive)

he gathered ... He arranged

David did not do these things alone. His official and officers helped him. AT: "David and his officials gathered ... David and his officers arranged" (See: Synecdoche)

all Israel

This is a generalization. Not every person in Israel came to fight. AT: "a very large number of Israelites" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)

He arranged

"He organized"

they fought him

Here "him" refers to David's soldiers, in addition to David. AT: "the Arameans fought David and his soldiers" (See: Synecdoche)

translationWords

Euphrates River

commander

Jordan River

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 Shophach the general And in Samuel (ad loc.) it is written: “and Shobach the general.” Our Rabbis explained in Sotah (42b): “Shobach, because he was as tall as a dovecote (שׁוֹבָךְ). Shophach, because he would shed (שׁוֹפֵךְ) blood like water.”

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.