Verse 1

1 Chronicles 18:1. Now after this David smote the Philistines — After the sweet communion he had had with God by the word and prayer, as is recorded in the foregoing chapter, he went on in his work with an extraordinary vigour and courage, conquering and to conquer. The reader will find all this chapter explained in the notes on 2 Samuel 8. Nevertheless we shall here make two or three short observations upon some parts of it.

Verse 3

1 Chronicles 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 2 Samuel 8:3.

Verse 5-6

1 Chronicles 18:5-6. When the Syrians came to help Hadarezer, David slew of the Syrians, &c. — Thus the enemies of God’s church are often made to ruin themselves by helping one another. The Syrians became David’s servants, and brought gifts — For the wealth of the sinner often proves to have been laid up for the just. The Syrians’ shields of gold, and their brass, were brought to Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 18:7-8. As the tabernacle was built of the spoils of the Egyptians, so the temple of the spoils of other Gentile nations: a happy presage of the interest the Gentiles should have in the gospel church.

Verse 10

1 Chronicles 18:10. He sent Hadoram his son to King David, &c. — It is our interest to make those our friends who have the presence of God with them, as this king of Hamath, hearing of David’s great success, sent to congratulate him and to court his favour with a noble present, judging it in vain to oppose one whose cause God so evidently espoused. And is it not still more in vain to contend with the son of David? Reader, kiss the Son lest he be angry: let the kings and judges of the earth, and all inferior people, be thus wise, thus instructed. The presents which we are to bring to him are not vessels of gold and silver, as here: those shall be welcome to him, who have no such presents to bring: but our hearts and affections; ourselves, our whole selves we must present to him as living sacrifices.

Verse 11

1 Chronicles 18:11. Them also King David dedicated to the Lord — Not only the spoils of his enemies, but the presents of his friends, he devoted to God, and laid up toward the building and enriching of the temple. Thus, we must honour God with that wherewith he blesseth us. And, indeed, that is most truly and most comfortably our own, which we have consecrated to the Lord, and which we use for his glory. Let our merchandise and our hire be holiness to the Lord.

Verse 13

1 Chronicles 18:13. The Lord preserved David whithersoever he went — Those who take God along with them wherever they go, may expect to prosper and be preserved in all places. And those are always under the eye of God, that have God always in their eye.

Verse 14

1 Chronicles 18:14. So David reigned, and executed judgment and justice among the people — And therefore answered the end of his elevation; and served the purposes of the kingdom of providence, and of that God who sits in the throne judging right. Thus also he became an eminent type of the Messiah, the sceptre of whose kingdom is a right sceptre.