1 Kings 11:15

1Ki 11:15 For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

Ver. 15. When David was in Edom.] See 2Sa 8:14, {See Trapp on "2Sa 8:14"}

To bury the slain.] David’s garrison soldiers, say some, left to keep Edom in subjection, but slain by the Edomites, which moved Joab to slay all the males he met with amongst them. War is the slaughter house of mankind. Pολεμος signifieth much blood.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 11:15-17. When David was in Edom — By his army to war against it; and Joab was gone up to bury the slain — The Israelites who were slain in the battle, (2Sa 8:13-14,) whom he honourably interred in some certain place, to which he is said to go up for that end. And this gave Hadad the opportunity of making his escape, while Joab and his men were all employed in the solemnity. After he had smitten, &c. — Or, and he smote, as it is in the Hebrew: which is here observed as the cause of Hadad’s flight; he understood what Joab had done in part, and intended further to do, even to kill all the males, and therefore fled for his life. With all Israel — That is, with all his army. Until he had cut off every male — That bore arms; for it is hardly to be thought that they cut off all the male children and youths. That Hadad fled — While Joab was busy in giving a solemn burial to the Israelites, certain Edomites took the opportunity to carry Hadad into Egypt.

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

Of the Edomites.

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

Verse 15. Was gone up to bury the slain] The slain Edomites; for Joab had in the course of six months exterminated all the males, except Hadad and his servants, who escaped to Egypt. Instead of bury the slain, the Targum has to take the spoils of the slain.

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

(15) The war here described is briefly noted, with some differences of detail, in 2Sa_8:12-14, 1Ch_18:11-13, and Psalms 60 (title and 1Ki_11:8). It is there closely connected with the great struggle with the Syrians, and the victory is ascribed in one record to Joab, in the other to Abishai. Here David himself is described as taking part in the war—perhaps completing the conquest, as in the war with Ammon, after it had been successfully begun by Joab (2Sa_12:26-31). (Instead of “David was in Edom,” the LXX. and other versions read “David destroyed Edom,” by a slight variation of the Hebrew text.) The war was evidently one of ruthless extermination of “every male,” except those who fled the country, or found refuge in its rocky fastnesses, and was carried on by systematic ravage under the command of Joab. How it was provoked we do not know; for we have no previous notice of Edom since the time of the Exodus, except a reference to war against it in the days of Saul (1Sa_14:47).

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

15. when David was in Edom] The time alluded to is the period of David’s conquests (2Sa_8:14), when it is said that all Edom became his servants. The LXX. says ‘when David destroyed Edom,’ which was perhaps the fact, as this verse shews, but is not stated in the earlier history. He conquered the land, and put garrisons of his own men throughout it.

and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain] On Joab, see 1Ki_1:7. The slain were the Israelites who had fallen in David’s war with Edom. To bury these the captain of the host was appointed, and he abode after that work was over, till all were cut off, or driven away, from whom there could be any fear of resistance.

after he had smitten every male in Edom] This can only mean, as just stated, those persons who were likely to rebel against Israel. The narrative in 2Sa_8:14 implies that those who submitted were left, and put under tribute to Israel.

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.

For six months did Joab remain with all Israel,.... With the whole army:

until he had cut off every male in Edom; as he supposed; for it was not fact, since after this they increased again, and became a powerful people, and had a king over them, and revolted from Judah, Kg2 8:20.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The verse gives certain additional particulars of David’s conquest of Edom (marginal references). Joab was left, or sent, to complete the subjugation of the country, with orders to exterminate all the grown male inhabitants. It was not very often that David acted with any extreme severity in his wars; but he may have considered himself justified by policy, as he certainly was by the letter of the Law Deu 20:13, in adopting this fierce course against Edom.

Was in Edom - Or, according to another reading, “smote” Edom.

The slain - Probably the Israelites who had fallen in the strnggle. Translate, “when ... Joab was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male,” etc.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

In Edom, in the 15th year of his reign. (Salien) --- Abisai was the general in this expedition, 2 Kings viii., and 1 Paralipomenon xviii. 12.

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).

When David was in Edom, to wit, by his army, to war against it. See 1Ch 18:12,13.

To bury the slain, to wit, the Israelites which were slain in the battle, 2Sa 8:13,14, whom he honourably inferred in some certain place, to which he is said to go up for that end. And this may be mentioned as that which gave Hadad the opportunity of making his escape, whilst Joab and his men were employed in that solemnity.

After he had smitten every male in Edom; or, and he smote, &c., as it is in the Hebrew; which is here noted as the cause of Hadad’s flight, he smote, &c. He understood what Joab had done in part, and intended further to do, even to kill all the males, and therefore fled for his life.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

15. When David was in Edom — See 2Sa_8:13-14, and notes there.

We bury the slain — The slain Israelites who fell in the Edomite war. From 1Ch_18:12, it would seem that Abishai, Joab’s brother, had chief command in the great battle that was fought in the Valley of Salt, and which resulted in the slaughter of eighteen thousand Edomites. Doubtless many an Israelite perished in this battle; and Joab, rather than Abishai, took charge of their burial.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For it came to pass, when David was in Edom. (2Sa_8:14) But the text is peculiar. Instead of "in Edom" we have "with Edom," unless we take ta to be the mark of the accusative, which, however, there is no verb to govern. Keil interprets, "When David had to do with Edom." Bahr refers to 1Ch_20:5, and Gen_19:4, but they are not strictly parallel, and it is possible that the text is slightly corrupt, as the LXX, Syr., and Arab. must have had twkhb instead of twyhb before them "when David smote Edom." The LXX, e.g., reads ejn tw ejxoloqreusai k.t.l. It was only vicariously, however, that David smote Edom, or was in Edom. According to 1Ch_18:12, Abishai slew 18, 000 Edomites, while Psalm 60. (title) represents Joab as having slain 12, 000 at the same time and place. The two brothers were both in high command, or Abishal may have been detailed by Joab to this service, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain The commentators generally are agreed that these are the Israelites slain by the Edomites during an invasion of Israel, and not either the Edomites or Israelites slain in the valley of Salt, after he had smitten rather, that he smote. This is the apodosis every male in Edom. This is, of course, hyperbolical (cf. "all Israel" below). It is clear that the whole Edomite nation did not perish. The words point to a terrible slaughter (cf. 1Ch_18:13) among the men of war. Possibly the cruelties of the Edomites (compare Psa_137:7; Oba_1:10-14) had provoked this act of retribution, as to which (see Deu_20:13)

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

In Edom - By his army, to war against it. To bury - The Israelites who were slain in the battle, 2 Sam. viii, 13, 14, whom he honourably interred in some certain place, to which he is said to go up for that end. And this gave Hadad the opportunity of making his escape, whilst Joab and his men were employed in that solemnity. Had smitten - Or, and he smote, as it is in the Hebrew: which is here noted as the cause of Hadad's flight; he understood what Joab had done in part, and intended farther to do, even to kill all the males and therefore fled for his life.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Dovid was in Edom. Then Hadad fled from Dovid and Yoav.

To bury the dead. For they buried the slain of Edom, this is what is stated in the Book of Shmuel, “And Dovid made [for himself] a name when he returned from slaying [those of] Edom,”.” For clarification, see Tehillim 60:2. for all were praising him as a pious person for he buries his slain. And similarly it states concerning the wars of Gog and Magog, “And they will bury all the people of the land, and it will bring them fame.” However, [Targum] Yonoson rendered לקבר את החללים, “to strip the slain,” [i.e.,] to remove their clothing.

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.