Commentaria in I Paralipomenon
Chapter 18
The wars of David and his victories over the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Idumeans, Ammonites and Amalecites are enumerated, and, in verse 15, his officers.
1. And it came to pass after this that David defeated the Philistines, and humbled them, and took Geth and its daughters out of the hand of the Philistines, 2. and he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, bringing him gifts. 3. At that time David also defeated Adarezer king of Soba in the country of Emath, when he went to extend his dominion as far as the river Euphrates.
4. So David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and he hamstrung all the horses of the chariots, except a hundred chariots which he reserved for himself. 5. And the Syrian of Damascus also came to bring aid to Adarezer king of Soba; but David slew of these also twenty-two thousand men. 6. And he put a garrison in Damascus, that Syria also might serve him, and bring gifts. And the Lord helped him in all things to which he went. 7. David also took the golden quivers which the servants of Adarezer had, and brought them to Jerusalem. 8. Also from Thebath and Chun, cities of Adarezer, a great quantity of brass, of which Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the brazen vessels. 9. And when Thou king of Emath heard that David had defeated all the army of Adarezer king of Soba, 10. he sent Adoram his son to king David, to desire peace of him and to congratulate him, that he had defeated and overthrown Adarezer: for Thou was an adversary of Adarezer. 11. And all the vessels of gold, and of silver, and of brass, king David consecrated to the Lord, with the silver and gold which he had taken from all the nations, as well from Idumea, and Moab, and the children of Ammon, as from the Philistines and Amalec. 12. And Abisai the son of Sarvia slew of the Edomites in the valley of the Saltpits eighteen thousand: 13. and he put a garrison in Edom, that Idumea might serve David; and the Lord preserved David in all things to which he went. 14. So David reigned over all Israel, and did judgment and justice to all his people. 15. And Joab the son of Sarvia was over the army, and Josaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder. 16. And Sadoc the son of Achitob, and Achimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests: and Susa was scribe. 17. Banaias also the son of Joiada was over the legions of the Cerethi and Phelethi: and the sons of David were the chief about the king’s hand. This valley, then, was destructive and, so to speak, fatal to the Idumeans. 16. Ahimelech the son of Abiathar—in Hebrew is This chapter is the same as chapter 8 of the book of 2 Kings, where I expounded it.
12. In the valley of the Saltpits,—where were the salt works in which salt was made. Hear Adrichomius in his description of the tribe of Juda, number 211: “The Valley of the Saltpits or of salt, in Hebrew Gemela, otherwise called Mela; in which David slew eighteen thousand Idumeans, and returning erected for himself a triumphal arch. In the same place Joab also destroyed twelve thousand; and Amasias ten or twenty thousand of the Idumeans, and threw another ten thousand from the rock and crag of Jecteel.” See 2 Kings 8; Psalms 58, 59; 1 Paralipomenon 16; 2 Paralipomenon 25; 4 Kings 14; Jerome in Abimelech; Septuagint, Achimelech. For the Hebrew letters beth and caph are akin and close. Moreover Ahimelech here is in the genitive case: for Abiathar the son of Ahimelech was priest, that is, High Priest of David together with Sadoc; unless you prefer that this Ahimelech was the son of Abiathar, who, in place of his aged father or when others were occupied, held the pontificate from time to time with Sadoc, as the sons of Heli and Samuel did, 1 Kings 2, 12, and chapter 8:1. And that it was so done is sufficiently gathered from 24:6.
Genesis 14 in the Hebrew places; in 2 Kings 8, and 1 Paralipomenon